Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kerri Rehak-Brooks. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Kerri thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

In spring of 2020, I started going to school for social work, which was a long-time
aspiration of mine, focusing on family and human dynamics and childhood
development. At this time, I had been in food management for over 10 years and was
trying to figure out what I wanted to do with a social work degree after finished. I always
enjoyed the hospitality side of food service, especially in the coffee industry. In coffee,
more so than types of food service, you get to know your customers on a different level.
In many cases, you see them every day and you get to know and learn their
personalities – you learn their highs and lows, see and hear about their milestones, and
learn to notice when they are having good or bad days. I love making that connection,
remembering people, even after their first visit, and knowing what they prefer or may
order.
The original and still-future idea of the Clove is to create a space that is more than just a
coffee shop. To create a space that was yes, a coffee shop and cafe, but also a space
with mental health at its core – so it could be a safe space for all, having a focus on
mental health where you could also go get your daily coffee or a cup of tea.
I grew up in a household where food scarcity was prevalent, as well as the presence of
an alcoholic and emotional abusive father. Even at a young age, I saw my mother deal
with her depression. Since about the age of nine, I knew I was dealing with my own
depression and struggled with suicidal tendencies and thoughts of self-harm. Since
then, I have wanted to create the safe space that I needed when I was younger and
additionally to be that person that I needed when I was growing up and struggling. I
didn’t think I would live past 25 so to create a space that I now have and where people
can come in and openly talk about their mental health in healthy ways, it is magical.
Additionally, I have dealt with medical issues my whole life, like migraines and stomach
issues, and didn’t find out until I was in my early 30s that I needed to eat a gluten-free
diet. Part of this, not knowing, was due to the food scarcity growing up. It had been
recommended by my doctor when I was about 8 to do food elimination diet to try to find
what was causing issues. While some of the issues could have been related to the
stress in the household, I was not able to do those elimination diets to rule out other
culprits. It was brushed over by doctors and not caught as a gluten intolerance until
much later.

So when I found out I was gluten intolerant, I added this to my mission. As a baker, I
wanted this to be something that was more easily accessible to people who need it, and
that it was available and in many options. I wanted people to feel that they weren’t being
a bother for needing that restriction tended to. Today, if you have a gluten allergy, you’re
lucky if a restaurant offers one option, like a gluten-free bun, let alone trusting their
cross-contamination procedures. This has been something very special to our
customers. Even starting at local farmers markets, we would have some that had gluten
sensitivities or celiac, come to tears when we let them know – “All. All the options are
available in gluten-free.”
Why Clove? Clove is a symbol of dignity and prosperity, and also reminds me of “cove”
or “grotto”, like from The Little Mermaid; it is my little hideaway where I hide all my
treasures. It is also that warm and inviting winter scent. Growing up where money was
scarce, our Christmases were often sponsored by the local food banks or churches and
families in the area. The fact that Christmas ever even happened was always so
magical because it would go from us not having anything to the night before my
grandmother or aunt showing up with a Christmas tree and us all putting it up together.
Christmas just always seemed like the Lifetime movie version of Christmas with the
magic happening, whether we had five or 20 little presents; even the batteries were
always wrapped to help make it more exciting for us. My mom definitely did what she
could to make it magical. I was a true believer in the magic of Christmas.
In my late 20s and early 30s, I was figuring out who I was and getting to be who I was,
dignity and prosperity (not monetary prosperity – defining success as happiness
personal prosperity) were important to me and words that fit how I felt about myself for
the first time and not things I had felt about myself before – the Clove and it’s what it
represents, became more meaningful. I was a mother. I had survived my childhood and
later an emotionally abusive marriage. I was proud of who I was for the first time. I found
my dignity and felt prosperous in life.
Initially established as a home-based cottage bakery, I spent two years baking an
arrangement of biscuits, muffins and scones that were available in both regular and
gluten-free options, selling them at various local farmers markets. Even out of the home,
I took pride in my focus on establishing as safe a kitchen area as possible by utilizing
separate mixers, tools, and tables to package on, as I prepared each type of baked
good to be available in both options – regular and gluten-free.
We outgrew the home only being able to do so many markets per weekend. The dream
began to grow of one day being able to turn what was a cottage bakery out of the home
into a that safe space I had dreamed of being able to provide – a brick-and-mortar
coffee shop, tea house, a bakery, and small eats cafe – but also so much more. In late
2024, an opportunity presented itself. I, with the support of my husband, took a chance

on this dream. The space we visited was cozy and inviting and it would become the
foundation of what would become the cafe in The Clove Cafe. We put many hours into
getting the place ready to become this special home. We were able to have a soft
opening in January 2025 and the grand opening in February. Now, in addition to the
baked goods people have been faithful to for the past two years, the Cafe allows us to
offer ethically sourced, locally roasted coffee and hand-blended teas. For baking, the
Cafe does have a common kitchen, but separate prep areas for gluten-free and regular
with separate mixers and tools for each as well. Many customers who are gluten-free
and even celiac, have come and continue to visit, truly loving the options offered. We
offer staple flavors for our baked goods but also offer special ones each month or in
certain seasons. We just celebrated one year of being open in February, and as part of
the one-year celebration, we launched The Clove Cafe's own private label coffee
through our local roasting partner that is both served and available in branded bags for
purchase. Customers have the option of three whole-bean coffee varieties, each
providing a portion of the proceeds back to a separate mental health focused non-profit
in our local area. We also offer hand-blended teas and matcha in addition to other drink
options. Like our baked goods, each month offers a special lineup of themed drinks with
fun names i.e. Cupid’s Kiss Latte, Oh My Gourd (pumpkin spice latte), Hocus Mochus,
and Shamrock Matcha. We also do items in honor of our staff during each of their
birthday months, where there is either a baked good or drink named after them. The
Cafe is cozy. warm, and inviting. It is not big, but it is home, and that safe space, for
many. We have a good number of regular customers but easily see about 50% of our
daily customers being first-time visitors. We have seen the Cafe continue to grow a little
each month since opening. Some days are slow, but for the most part, each day grows
a little more than the same day from the prior week. We have an amazing team of
women who make the Cafe continue to have that personal touch for every person who
comes through the door.
As we continue to see it grow, we still struggle with it being in the red. Most of the
expenses are covered, but there is still some opportunity for growth and allocation of
funds. We have taken out some loans through Square, our POS, and that continues to
impact the bottom line as well. We would love to find some opportunities through grants
that can help build some cushion and possibly help restructure our debt for the
business.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story of The Clove Cafe. I truly appreciate your
consideration.
The Clove Cafe’s mission statement: The Clove Cafe is an inclusive space providing
delicious, high-quality baked goods that cater to a variety of dietary needs, while
providing mental health awareness and community support. You Matter.

The Clove Cafe’s slogan: One bite at a time, one sip at a time.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

My name is Kerri Rehak-Brooks, In spring of 2020, I started going to school for social work, which was a long-time aspiration of mine, focusing on family and human dynamics and childhood development. At this time, I had been in food management for over 10 years and was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with a social work degree after finished. I always enjoyed the hospitality side of food service, especially in the coffee industry. In coffee, more so than types of food service, you get to know your customers on a different level. In many cases, you see them every day and you get to know and learn their personalities – you learn their highs and lows, see and hear about their milestones, and learn to notice when they are having good or bad days. I love making that connection, remembering people, even after their first visit, and knowing what they prefer or may order.

The original and still-future idea of the Clove is to create a space that is more than just a coffee shop. To create a space that was yes, a coffee shop and cafe, but also a space with mental health at its core – so it could be a safe space for all, having a focus on mental health where you could also go get your daily coffee or a cup of tea.

I grew up in a household where food scarcity was prevalent, as well as the presence of an alcoholic and emotional abusive father. Even at a young age, I saw my mother deal with her depression. Since about the age of nine, I knew I was dealing with my own depression and struggled with suicidal tendencies and thoughts of self-harm. Since then, I have wanted to create the safe space that I needed when I was younger and additionally to be that person that I needed when I was growing up and struggling. I didn’t think I would live past 25 so to create a space that I now have and where people can come in and openly talk about their mental health in healthy ways, it is magical.

Additionally, I have dealt with medical issues my whole life, like migraines and stomach issues, and didn’t find out until I was in my early 30s that I needed to eat a gluten-free diet. Part of this, not knowing, was due to the food scarcity growing up. It had been recommended by my doctor when I was about 8 to do food elimination diet to try to find what was causing issues. While some of the issues could have been related to the stress in the household, I was not able to do those elimination diets to rule out other culprits. It was brushed over by doctors and not caught as a gluten intolerance until much later.

So when I found out I was gluten intolerant, I added this to my mission. As a baker, I wanted this to be something that was more easily accessible to people who need it, and that it was available and in many options. I wanted people to feel that they weren’t being a bother for needing that restriction tended to. Today, if you have a gluten allergy, you’re lucky if a restaurant offers one option, like a gluten-free bun, let alone trusting their cross-contamination procedures. This has been something very special to our customers. Even starting at local farmers markets, we would have some that had gluten sensitivities or celiac, come to tears when we let them know – “All. All the options are available in gluten-free.”

Why Clove? Clove is a symbol of dignity and prosperity, and also reminds me of “cove” or “grotto”, like from The Little Mermaid; it is my little hideaway where I hide all my treasures. It is also that warm and inviting winter scent. Growing up where money was scarce, our Christmases were often sponsored by the local food banks or churches and families in the area. The fact that Christmas ever even happened was always so magical because it would go from us not having anything to the night before my grandmother or aunt showing up with a Christmas tree and us all putting it up together. Christmas just always seemed like the Lifetime movie version of Christmas with the magic happening, whether we had five or 20 little presents; even the batteries were always wrapped to help make it more exciting for us. My mom definitely did what she could to make it magical. I was a true believer in the magic of Christmas.

In my late 20s and early 30s, I was figuring out who I was and getting to be who I was, dignity and prosperity (not monetary prosperity – defining success as happiness personal prosperity) were important to me and words that fit how I felt about myself for the first time and not things I had felt about myself before – the Clove and it’s what it represents, became more meaningful. I was a mother. I had survived my childhood and later an emotionally abusive marriage. I was proud of who I was for the first time. I found my dignity and felt prosperous in life.

Initially established as a home-based cottage bakery, I spent two years baking an arrangement of biscuits, muffins and scones that were available in both regular and gluten-free options, selling them at various local farmers markets. Even out of the home, I took pride in my focus on establishing as safe a kitchen area as possible by utilizing separate mixers, tools, and tables to package on, as I prepared each type of baked good to be available in both options – regular and gluten-free.

We outgrew the home only being able to do so many markets per weekend. The dream began to grow of one day being able to turn what was a cottage bakery out of the home into a that safe space I had dreamed of being able to provide – a brick-and-mortar coffee shop, tea house, a bakery, and small eats cafe – but also so much more. In late 2024, an opportunity presented itself. I, with the support of my husband, took a chance on this dream. The space we visited was cozy and inviting and it would become the foundation of what would become the cafe in The Clove Cafe. We put many hours into getting the place ready to become this special home. We were able to have a soft opening in January 2025 and the grand opening in February. Now, in addition to the baked goods people have been faithful to for the past two years, the Cafe allows us to offer ethically sourced, locally roasted coffee and hand-blended teas. For baking, the Cafe does have a common kitchen, but separate prep areas for gluten-free and regular with separate mixers and tools for each as well. Many customers who are gluten-free and even celiac, have come and continue to visit, truly loving the options offered. We offer staple flavors for our baked goods but also offer special ones each month or in certain seasons. We just celebrated one year of being open in February, and as part of the one-year celebration, we launched The Clove Cafe’s own private label coffee through our local roasting partner that is both served and available in branded bags for purchase. Customers have the option of three whole-bean coffee varieties, each providing a portion of the proceeds back to a separate mental health focused non-profit in our local area. We also offer hand-blended teas and matcha in addition to other drink options. Like our baked goods, each month offers a special lineup of themed drinks with fun names i.e. Cupid’s Kiss Latte, Oh My Gourd (pumpkin spice latte), Hocus Mochus, and Shamrock Matcha. We also do items in honor of our staff during each of their birthday months, where there is either a baked good or drink named after them. The Cafe is cozy. warm, and inviting. It is not big, but it is home, and that safe space, for many. We have a good number of regular customers but easily see about 50% of our daily customers being first-time visitors. We have seen the Cafe continue to grow a little each month since opening. Some days are slow, but for the most part, each day grows a little more than the same day from the prior week. We have an amazing team of women who make the Cafe continue to have that personal touch for every person who comes through the door.

The Clove Cafe’s mission statement: The Clove Cafe is an inclusive space providing delicious, high-quality baked goods that cater to a variety of dietary needs, while providing mental health awareness and community support. You Matter.

The Clove Cafe’s slogan: One bite at a time, one sip at a time.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Also included in the main, overall story: The original and still-future idea of the Clove is to create a space that is more than just a coffee shop. To create a space that was yes, a coffee shop and cafe, but also a space with mental health at its core – so it could be a safe space for all, having a focus on mental health where you could also go get your daily coffee or a cup of tea.

I grew up in a household where food scarcity was prevalent, as well as the presence of an alcoholic and emotional abusive father. Even at a young age, I saw my mother deal with her depression. Since about the age of nine, I knew I was dealing with my own depression and struggled with suicidal tendencies and thoughts of self-harm. Since then, I have wanted to create the safe space that I needed when I was younger and additionally to be that person that I needed when I was growing up and struggling. I didn’t think I would live past 25 so to create a space that I now have and where people can come in and openly talk about their mental health in healthy ways, it is magical.

Additionally, I have dealt with medical issues my whole life, like migraines and stomach issues, and didn’t find out until I was in my early 30s that I needed to eat a gluten-free diet. Part of this, not knowing, was due to the food scarcity growing up. It had been recommended by my doctor when I was about 8 to do food elimination diet to try to find what was causing issues. While some of the issues could have been related to the stress in the household, I was not able to do those elimination diets to rule out other culprits. It was brushed over by doctors and not caught as a gluten intolerance until much later.

So when I found out I was gluten intolerant, I added this to my mission. As a baker, I wanted this to be something that was more easily accessible to people who need it, and that it was available and in many options. I wanted people to feel that they weren’t being a bother for needing that restriction tended to. Today, if you have a gluten allergy, you’re lucky if a restaurant offers one option, like a gluten-free bun, let alone trusting their cross-contamination procedures. This has been something very special to our customers. Even starting at local farmers markets, we would have some that had gluten sensitivities or celiac, come to tears when we let them know – “All. All the options are available in gluten-free.”

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Also included in the main, overall story: In my late 20s and early 30s, I was figuring out who I was and getting to be who I was, dignity and prosperity (not monetary prosperity – defining success as happiness personal prosperity) were important to me and words that fit how I felt about myself for the first time and not things I had felt about myself before – the Clove and it’s what it represents, became more meaningful. I was a mother. I had survived my childhood and later an emotionally abusive marriage. I was proud of who I was for the first time. I found my dignity and felt prosperous in life.

Initially established as a home-based cottage bakery, I spent two years baking an arrangement of biscuits, muffins and scones that were available in both regular and gluten-free options, selling them at various local farmers markets. Even out of the home, I took pride in my focus on establishing as safe a kitchen area as possible by utilizing separate mixers, tools, and tables to package on, as I prepared each type of baked good to be available in both options – regular and gluten-free.

We outgrew the home only being able to do so many markets per weekend. The dream began to grow of one day being able to turn what was a cottage bakery out of the home into a that safe space I had dreamed of being able to provide – a brick-and-mortar coffee shop, tea house, a bakery, and small eats cafe – but also so much more. In late 2024, an opportunity presented itself. I, with the support of my husband, took a chance on this dream. The space we visited was cozy and inviting and it would become the foundation of what would become the cafe in The Clove Cafe. We put many hours into getting the place ready to become this special home. We were able to have a soft opening in January 2025 and the grand opening in February. Now, in addition to the baked goods people have been faithful to for the past two years, the Cafe allows us to offer ethically sourced, locally roasted coffee and hand-blended teas. For baking, the Cafe does have a common kitchen, but separate prep areas for gluten-free and regular with separate mixers and tools for each as well. Many customers who are gluten-free and even celiac, have come and continue to visit, truly loving the options offered. We offer staple flavors for our baked goods but also offer special ones each month or in certain seasons. We just celebrated one year of being open in February, and as part of the one-year celebration, we launched The Clove Cafe’s own private label coffee through our local roasting partner that is both served and available in branded bags for purchase. Customers have the option of three whole-bean coffee varieties, each providing a portion of the proceeds back to a separate mental health focused non-profit in our local area. We also offer hand-blended teas and matcha in addition to other drink options. Like our baked goods, each month offers a special lineup of themed drinks with fun names i.e. Cupid’s Kiss Latte, Oh My Gourd (pumpkin spice latte), Hocus Mochus, and Shamrock Matcha. We also do items in honor of our staff during each of their birthday months, where there is either a baked good or drink named after them. The Cafe is cozy. warm, and inviting. It is not big, but it is home, and that safe space, for many. We have a good number of regular customers but easily see about 50% of our daily customers being first-time visitors. We have seen the Cafe continue to grow a little each month since opening. Some days are slow, but for the most part, each day grows a little more than the same day from the prior week. We have an amazing team of women who make the Cafe continue to have that personal touch for every person who comes through the door.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theclovecafe.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_clove_cafe/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theclovecafehurst/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-clove-cafe-hurst