Penny’s Cafe o ers high quality co ee, new walk-up window

FLINT, MI ebecca Walgenbach started working in the food industry when she was 14 years old, primarily as a server.

“I wanted to do something more,” she said.

That something became Penny’s Café, located inside of the Flint Farmers’ Market for the past three years.

Walgenbach’s dream started when she linked up with a coffee instructor, Nicholas Ferris, in Ann Arbor and he took her under his wing.

Ferris owns BD Barista School, which has become one of the best coffee schools in the country. This school teaches other cafes, home enthusiasts, entrepreneurs and aspiring baristas the skills needed to create coffee and tea.

Originally from New Hampshire, Walgenbach also lived in Los

Angeles, but Michigan has been home for the past 24 years.

Walgenbach has worked at least 20 server jobs, she said.

“I would change jobs every three years,” Walgenbach said.

The name Penny’s Café has an interesting backstory behind it.

When she moved to Michigan from LA with her husband, Walgenbach said she felt miserable in Shelby Township, a suburban area.

“It was so boring, and I wanted to own chickens, and I couldn’t in Shelby,” she said. “I made everybody move because I wanted chickens and one of my rst chickens was named Penny. She was my favorite chicken and she loved me.”

Walgenbach moved to Holly

Michigan’s

iSALINE, MI and became sober after years of drinking, along with buying her chickens.

“Everything great happened after I moved,” she said. “All because I wanted a chicken. So, I was like our coffee shop is named after her.”