Article Contributed on: 12/1/2008 11:12:52 AM
For
Jane Rogers, Parker resident and mother of three, family always comes first. Working at Kunjani Coffea, a new coffeehouse in Parker, allows her to do just that, she said.
"They understand my devotion to my family," she said.
As a stay-at-home mom for the past 13 years, Rogers said she required a job that would allow her the flexibility to get her kids off to school every morning and be there for her oldest daughter, who has special needs.
"I told them my family will always come first, and they said 'Not a problem,'" Rogers said.
Rogers sees Kunjani as the "community's coffee shop," a place that, even in hard times, brings people together.
"It's kind of like walking into my family room," she said of coming to work. "I don't even think of it as a job."
Kunjani general manager
Sid Huggins said he enjoys working with the diverse team of employees. Kunjani employs high school kids, college students, single moms -- a wide variety of ages and experiences, he said.
"I want them to really love what they do and be a part of what we're doing," he said. "I want it to be a joy to be able to come to work."
Brad Oakman, Kunjani co-founder and owner, said Kunjani is trying to create a distintive gathering place, a "Cheers" of coffeehouses. Families often gather on Sunday mornings to play board games around the fireplace, and Chaparral High School's poetry club has started meeting at the shop, he said.
Oakman, who has a construction background, helped design the building, which was modeled after European coffeehouses. The shop opened in September.
The name Kunjani Coffea comes from African and Latin roots, "Kunjani" being Zulu for "How are you?" and "coffea" being the Latin name for the coffee plant, Oakman said.
"Getting to know individual customers by name, remembering their drinks, that's what a coffee shop is all about," Oakman said.
Kunjani Coffea, 10009 Jordan Road, Parker, is open 5 a.m.-9 p.m. seven days a week. For more information, call 720-249-5594 or visit
www.kunjanicoffea.com.