(page 44) DECEMBER 2014
THE SCOOP BY KINSEY GUSTAFSON
RUMOURS Community, coffee and Fleetwood Mac are helping Rumours, Rapid City’s newest coffee shop, stand out while helping others fit in. Walking into Rumours, you immediately get the sense of a cozy coffee shop where you could lounge for hours, uninterrupted, while sipping a hot coffee or a glass of wine. And that’s the way owners Tara Little and Larry Adams want it. Little had the idea to open the business eight years ago when she was helping out at a local coffee shop in Spearfish. “It hooks you and you love the atmosphere,” said Little. It took time to find the right space in Rapid City, but Little was determined and let everyone she met in on her dream. That’s when Adams jumped onboard and they embarked on opening Rumours. The shop’s name has special meaning for Little, who listened to records with her father growing up. Fleetwood Mac’s reunion tour was the last concert she attended with her father before he passed away. Little wanted to include her dad in the shop, but his name, John, didn’t quite fit. Then, while listening to the Fleetwood Mac album, Rumours, it dawned on her that the name fit perfectly and represented their love of music. The album can be seen hanging on the wall in the coffee shop among Polaroids, coffee bean bags and 100-year-old farm wood. The century-old wood comes from Selby, out of a barn that was on Adams’ family farm. It gives him a personal connection in the shop, and helps add to the inviting feel of the space. The design concept stands out from the many, more commercial coffee shops out there. It’s rustic and industrial wrapped into one. Adams and Little say they wanted an old feel. “We designed it for people to want to stay and drink for an hour,” said Adams. “We want you to feel at home. You don’t see that everywhere. We’re not trying to get you in and out.” Community is the word that comes to Adams when he Images Submitted.
thinks of what Rumours brings to Rapid City. They looked for baristas who were happy and had great people skills, even if they didn’t necessarily know how to make coffee. Brand new equipment for making the best cup possible was brought in, but a sense of community is what Rumours strives for. “We’ve spent a lot of time on training and equipment to make really good coffee drinks. To me, Rumours is a coffee bar that in the evening, locals can come have a glass of wine or beer before going home. They can unwind, but in a coffee shop atmosphere,” said Adams. He and Little also know that the flipside of unwinding is a busy workday morning. That’s why there is a drive thru window and a selection of quick, but delicious, breakfast items. Not only is Rumours a community coffee shop, it also features a large selection of tap and bottle beers, wine, breakfast items from local restaurants, and “small bites” once the evening rolls around. Rumours serves as a live music venue on Friday and Saturday nights. Local artists and bands entertain patrons, while keeping alive the love of music that Little wanted for her shop. A sense of community, plus a great drink list, have people calling themselves Rumours regulars already. Adams says people have started asking about another location. He noted that they want to walk before they run. “We’re starting slow so we can do it right,” agreed Little. The focus, for now, is on the one location and the community, which are helping Little and Adams’ dream of a coffee shop with a soul of music succeed. Rumours is located at 5509 Bendt Drive in the Stoney Creek Plaza. For more info about the shop and live music performances, visit www.blackhillsrumours.com or call (605) 791-5558.