It is May of 2022. You are fresh out of college, seeking a community. A place of people, connections, and friendships — searching to find your footing in a vast, wide-open world. You find it. In a little neighborhood café where the world’s eagerness slows down and the sounds of coffee grinders whirring, spoons clinking — laughter dancing, tune out the noise outside.

Alana Brenny, a Foley, Minnesota native, was named the winner of the Hinckley Mille Place Coffee Shop Contest earlier this month. As a young entrepreneur and participant in Cohort 21 of the Enterprise Academy within MLCV’s Tribal Economy Business Incubator program, Alana is on the path toward building a business plan and curating a Hinckley café that speaks to her spirit and fills her soul.

About the Hinckley Mille Place Coffee Shop Contest

Hinckley Mille Place — Photo by Evan Bungum, MLCV’s Multimedia Producer

MLCV’s partnership with the Initiative Foundation and the North Central Small Business Development Center made the Hinckley Mille Place Coffee Shop Contest possible. The contest was open to all participants of Cohort 21 of the Enterprise Academy through MLCV’s Tribal Economy Business Incubator program, which began its twelve-week course on October 3. The winner of the contest receives the same outcomes from the curriculum as other entrepreneurs, along with a low-cost lease on a newly renovated Hinckley Mill Place Coffee Shop building, with rights to naming and design, as well as aid with uniforms, logo, and website creation, product and equipment sourcing, and more.

Alana’s Background and Inspiration

Alana Brenny grew up in Foley, Minnesota. As one of six siblings, she is no stranger to the positive impacts of connective relationships. After high school, Alana headed East to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where in 2022, she graduated with a degree in Music Performance. At this time, Alana played the French horn in venues around town, all while trying to find her own village to settle into. She discovered Crescendo Espresso Bar, where she found a position opening for a barista and, soon, a community.

It was here that Alana ultimately pinpoints her inspiration to apply for the Hinckley Mille Place Coffee Shop Contest. And up until this past August, when she moved to Minneapolis, she spent her hours learning the ins and outs of barista-ing and managing a café. Alana credits her realization and embracement of passion and growth to the support of her leaders at Crescendo, who guided her with plenty of encouragement and experience — all the way to menu development.

Discovery of the Contest & Enterprise Academy + Journey

Alana made a move in August of 2023 to Minneapolis after a desire to be close, once again, to her large family. She planned to make her return as a barista, putting roots down at another local coffee shop, until a relative shared information on the Coffee Shop Contest through the Enterprise Academy. Admittedly, she had not placed much serious consideration on opening a café of her own prior, only a dream that hummed a tune along her journey thus far.

Alana applied, undoubtedly knowing this was an incredible opportunity — fate-like, yet unknowingly that she would be selected for multiple interviews, complete with a case study presentation, leading to the call to change her future forever. She was surprised and thrilled!

As Alana looks ahead in the Enterprise Academy, she hopes to learn as much as she can – capturing insights into maintaining an organized business to understanding how to fuse the financial components with her vision, keeping practicality in mind. She shares her anticipated challenges and aspirations for the course, “There are many layers to running a business, and right now, it can feel overwhelming. But, through my mentors' and fellow classmates' knowledge and perspectives, I am confident of my success moving forward.”

Alana’s Vision for the Café

Local. Natural. Social hub. When imagining the new Hinckley Mille Coffee Shop, store those three words in the front of your mind.

Alana plans to recognize and admire the locality of the shop. From featuring and selling local authors and artists inside to making a focal point of the beautiful surrounding woodland outside and bringing those vibes back inside to mimic the relaxed, natural atmosphere the location exudes.

Alana’s goal is to create a social, community hub, specifically with young adults in mind, recreating the feeling she became so closely akin to with her time at Crescendo Espresso Bar. She shares, “Just a single coffee shop in a town can bring a lot. It becomes a place for people to relax, get to know others, and build relationships.” Along with her local and natural touches, she’ll use her musical (and childhood) background to make this goal come to life. Alana envisions hosting community events focusing on music — think jazz nights, open mic, and game nights — similar to how she shared her free time growing up. “A lot of my core memories are time spent at cafes with my friends, and I want to provide others the opportunity to do the same,” Alana explains.

Community-Centric

Community is a vital part of Alana’s life. She has sought a community herself, and now she is in a position to unite a community. Alana’s motivation for this entire endeavor is strengthening a community. She wants to serve her neighbors with what she wishes will bring joy, comfort, and connectedness. “I am hopeful that the café will be as beneficial and impactful for the community as this opportunity has been and will continue to be for me.”

In celebrating Alana Brenny and her journey to winning the Hinckley Mille Place Coffee Shop Contest, we witness passion and purpose. Through her vision, Alana aspires to create a cozy little neighborhood café where local talent shines, nature’s beauty is abundant, and friends, families, and strangers can come together as one. Just as she found her place, her community, her people, she hopes to help others do the same. Alana’s café is set to become more than just a pit stop for coffee; it’s poised to be a cornerstone of the Mille Lacs Tribal Economy.

Stay tuned to follow along and support Alana’s entrepreneurial journey!

This article was written by Hannah Torkelson, MLCV’s Senior Communications Strategist. Hannah is a storyteller responsible for executing internal and external MLCV communications and capturing impactful moments within MLCV’s portfolio.