Downtown Galesburg is getting its first-ever Coffee Crawl on April 25 — a morning of coffee, community, and trolley rides connecting three of the city’s locally owned coffee shops. The women behind the event joined Galesburg’s Morning News Wednesday morning to talk about it. The full interview is below.
The event runs from 8 to 11:30 a.m. in downtown Galesburg. A $40 ticket includes a custom zipper tote bag, a punch card, unlimited trolley rides between stops, and samples or treats at each location. Guests who collect all three punches — one from each coffee shop after making a purchase — are entered into a raffle drawing.
Tickets are available online through the Downtown Galesburg Coffee Crawl Facebook event page, as well as through each shop’s social media. Organizers will also be selling tickets and distributing bags at Park Plaza that morning from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. The event is rain or shine.
The trolley, provided by The Vault at Reserve Artisan Ales, will run continuously between stops throughout the morning.
Three shops, one morning
The idea came from Stephanie Sikorski of Core Communication & Consulting, who co-organized the event with The Social KD. Sikorski said she got the concept from a coffee crawl she put together with her sister while visiting Greenville, South Carolina.
“I said, let’s make up our own crawl,” Sikorski said. “We had so much fun just sampling coffees and sitting down and catching vibes.”
Sikorski said what makes the collaboration work is that all three shops are locally owned — and when downtown businesses thrive, the whole community benefits.
“Shopping local is loving local,” she said. “If we can invite people to be a part of that mission — to bring people together, to support local businesses, to do all three in one hop — who would ever go to all three coffee shops in one stop? You’re not going to do it. This is an invitation to experience all three.”
What to expect at each stop
Jessica Ketchum, who owns Innkeeper’s Fresh Roasted Coffee with her husband Ben, said the crawl is an extension of what Saturday mornings at Innkeeper’s already feel like.
“Whether it’s girlfriends getting together or maybe you had a little too much fun the night before — whatever brings you into a coffee shop on a Saturday morning, we’re always glad to welcome you,” Ketchum said.
Innkeeper’s will feature a drink special, a pastry promotion, and a balloon photo opportunity outside on the patio, weather permitting.
Sarah Baldwin said Orange Cup Sidecar — the newest of Orange Cup’s four Galesburg locations, at 337 E. Main St. — is excited to showcase its sourdough bread alongside its full coffee and beverage menu.
“That’s the real thing I’m excited to share,” Baldwin said. “It’s been a dream of mine.”
Katelyn Davis said The Beanhive will lean into its community atmosphere, with cozy vibes and specialty items including cinnamon rolls, muffins, cookies, and a blueberry lavender tea sample. The Beanhive’s regular Saturday open mic runs from 2 to 4 p.m. — Davis encouraged crawl attendees to come back for it.
Not just for coffee drinkers
The event isn’t limited to coffee lovers. Each stop will offer teas, pastries, energy drinks, and other options. Baldwin noted that Orange Cup Sidecar carries teas, lemonade, Monster drinks, and decaf options as well.
“I dare somebody to find something they don’t like,” Sikorski said. “They will find you a beverage.”
Other downtown retailers are expected to have promotions or extended hours that morning, making it a broader downtown experience beyond just the three coffee stops.
Sikorski said she hopes the Coffee Crawl becomes an annual event — and hinted that future editions could expand beyond coffee.
“I think we might be on to something,” she said.
