SIOUX CITY | Nicole Hefel is the manager of Sioux City's newest Starbucks at 2301 Hamilton Blvd.
She oversees about 20 employees. About half are full-time, and the rest part-time. Hefel said she's often the first person people see in the morning.
"It's a fun customer service job, and you get to serve coffee," she said.
Hefel said the faces are pretty regular Monday through Friday, but weekends can bring some new ones. She added the Hamilton location has become a regular stop for Morningside residents who work on the west side. There also is a Starbucks at 4735 Sergeant Road in Lakeport Commons.
"It's been really nice," Hefel said of the Hamilton location. "We get a lot of people from the other side of town, but it's more convenient for them to come over here."
Hefel said she has been a manager at Starbucks for three years, but has worked in coffee shops as a barista for more than 10 years.
The Hamilton Starbucks is just one of many stores that opened along one of Sioux City's busiest streets in 2015. Next door at Qdoba, 2303 Hamilton Blvd., manager Eric Hardesty is helping his staff serve up hearty food.
"We're doing good," Hardesty said.
The restaurant, which opened in September, has about 75 percent full-time employees, and the rest are part-time.
Hardesty said Monday through Friday are the busiest days, while weekends can be quieter. He said customers are drawn to the loaded tortilla soup.
"We bring 3D flavor," he said. "It's a different experience. We're talking about the flavor of the food and the flavor of the people. It's embracing uniqueness."
In March, Scooter's opened at 1390 Hamilton Blvd. A corporate location is open at 675 Gordon Drive, and another store will open at the Shoppes at Northern Valley near Outer Drive and Floyd Boulevard.
Farther down Hamilton Boulevard, E & Company opened at The Marketplace Shopping Centre. The business moved into space previously leased by L’Aventura at 2919 Hamilton Blvd.
