POUR GIRLS SERVES TOWN FOR A DECADE
Laytonville residents and travelers alike have been treated to coffee, tasty treats and more that Pour Girls Coffee has offered for ten years now. Located on Highway 101, the quaint shop conveniently has a drive-through for those in a rush, as well as a cozy boutique-like lobby that sells a variety of items, from jewelry to ‘Housewives of Laytonville’ travel mugs.
Aside from a plethora of coffee drinks and smoothies, there is an assortment of breakfast options and pastries. Customers can shop for a collection of gift items and essentials such as face masks, stylish hats, quirky socks, tote bags and lip glosses. Even during the pandemic, when indoor dining is not allowed, the shop is pleasant and inviting.
Pour Girls Coffee owner and lifelong Laytonville resident
Crystal Finnegan said she purchases items from a variety of vendors, including some locally handmade items. The organic, fair trade, Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee is from Aroma Roasters in Santa Rosa, a batch is roasted especially for Pour Girls and picked up weekly.
As with many businesses, the COVID pandemic has changed operations at the café. Finnegan said, “It’s been hard with the COVID restrictions, (they) kind of changed the whole look of the shop.”
She had to rearrange the shop as indoor dining is not allowed in Mendocino County at this time, as well as put up the required signage.
The drive through window allowed Pour Girls to remain open throughout the pandemic, selling food and drinks as well as face masks out of the window. However, Finnegan said that with schools being virtual for the past year, the cafe is not getting business from school morning and afternoon rushes.
Additionally, with Stayat-home orders imposed throughout the state, people have been traveling less since the pandemic arrived. She said, “Our business
went down about 50 percent… It’s been tough, but we are rolling with the punches, trying to keep up with all new ordinances… We’re doing alright, we are surviving.”
Finnegan said she was motivated to open the coffee shop by the desire to bring something new to Long Valley, something with a drivethrough option that consistently served good products. She said she wanted “Something fun, where kids could come after school and get a hot chocolate or an iced drink. Just have something fun for the community (that is) reliable and safe.”
Finnegan explained Pour Girls opened in 2011 and started with multiple owners. However, herself and husband bought out the other owners within the
first year. The small shop has had up to twelve employees at a time, and currently has seven. Finnegan praised her employees.
She said, “They are all hard workers.”
Finnegan explained that her staff has worked relentlessly throughout the pandemic and she is proud of them. She said she could not run the shop without manager Jamie Woodsmall, who continued to work hard throughout the pandemic, even while her own husband battled cancer.
Pour Girls Coffee is located at 44950 Highway 101 in Laytonville and is open Monday-saturday from 6 a.m.- 5 p.m. and 7 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sundays. Follow them on Facebook or call (707) 984-8500 for more information.