Cuppies & Joe Featured
featured business
GET TO KNOW...
Elizabeth Diefenderfer,
owner/partner of Cuppies & Joe
01. What did you want to be when you were a kid?
A photographer.
02. What was your first job?
After college it was working for a documentary film company doing random post-production work that I originally knew nothing about.
03. What do you like to do in your free time?
Spend time with friends, especially fixing delicious food together and just relaxing at home. I also enjoy traveling.
04. What's the best advice you've ever received?
That we should work to live, not live to work.
05. How long have you been in business and how did you get started?
Cuppies & Joe has been open for a year and a half and we actually got started because I got laid off from the job I had at the documentary film company. My mom had always wanted to open a dessert shop for as long as I can remember and my sisters and I caught the vision and had been brainstorming all together how to get it going. My lay off was exactly what we needed to take that leap of faith and a few months later my mom quit her job at an oil & gas company.
06. Why do you choose to operate your business in Oklahoma as opposed to somewhere else?
Well especially after opening C & J, we are convinced that you cannot do something like this without a support system behind you to encourage, be patrons, & occasionally go in the back and wash dishes! :) We would have never survived in the beginning without family & friends. We love it here...we have always lived here and love the people!
07. Why do you think its important to keep it local?
There's something special about knowing that you are supporting people that live "next door" to you. There's a charm to it and it makes your life richer. Not to mention the "one-of-a-kind" factor that your friends in other states won't have what you have. We LOVE showing off the great local spots to our out of town friends.
08. What locally owned business (other than your own) could you not live without?
Collected Thread- It is my go-to spot for gifts...and sometimes a cute shirt for myself! I love The Wedge, Blue 7, Saturn Grill, Iguana, Cheever's, Cafe Antigua...just to mention a few! :)
09. Our Facebook fans want to know: What is it that sets you apart from the national chains and promotes loyal, repeat customers?
Atmosphere is so important to us! We try to foster a comfortable, inviting atmosphere at our cafe. After going to Europe, my twin sister and I loved how people there slowed down their lives for a couple of hours and just enjoyed each other's company and our dream was to bring a taste of that here.
10. Our Twitter followers want to know: What drives you to keep doing what you do?
As exhausting as it is at times, we love what we do and especially love the people we have met in the process. We are very relational and have treasured the staff we've gotten to know and all of the incredible, loyal customers we have!
