Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott Van Daalen.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Tapestry Coffee started as a simple idea between friends who loved good coffee and wanted to build something that brought people together. We opened our first shop a little over four years ago with a small team, a limited menu, and the hope that if we focused on quality and relationships, people would notice.
Not long after opening, we began roasting our own coffee. It gave us the ability to control quality from start to finish and opened the door to wholesale partners who wanted the same level of care for their shops. From there, the business grew in a few directions at once. We expanded our roasting operation, built out online sales, and continued improving the cafe experience so that it stayed warm, welcoming, and rooted in community.
In June of this year, we also took over ownership of Donut Star, a long standing donut shop with a loyal following in Lakeville and Burnsville. It has been a natural fit for us because the heart behind both businesses is the same. Serve people well and create places where the community feels at home.
Today we operate a busy cafe, a full roastery, a growing wholesale program, and two thriving donut shops. What has carried us forward is a mix of curiosity, steady improvement, and a genuine desire to make someone’s day better through a cup of coffee or a box of donuts. We are still learning and growing, but the mission is the same as day one. Good coffee, served with care, and built on real connection.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been good, but it has not always been easy. When we opened Tapestry we were twenty four and twenty five, and we had a lot of energy but very little experience. We were learning how to run a business at the same time we were learning how to lead people, manage finances, and build systems that kept the shop running day after day. There were times when we felt in over our heads, but we kept showing up and figuring things out one step at a time.
As we grew, new challenges showed up. Moving into roasting required a whole new skill set. Building a wholesale program meant learning sales and delivery logistics. Taking on Donut Star this year meant stepping into a fifty year old business with its own rhythms, staff, and expectations. Each stage forced us to grow up fast as owners and leaders.
The road has had its bumps, but it has also been incredibly rewarding. The hard parts made us sharper, more thoughtful, and more prepared for the work we are doing today.
As you know, we’re big fans of Tapestry Coffee. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Tapestry Coffee is a mission driven business. Our mission is creating connection through coffee, and that idea shapes everything we do, from how we roast to how we serve to how we hire and lead our teams. Coffee is the product, but the real work is building places where people feel seen, welcomed, and cared for.
We focus on roasting coffee that is balanced, sweet, and easy to drink. We want our coffees to feel approachable for anyone, whether they are new to specialty coffee or have been drinking it for years. In the cafe, we try to create an environment that feels warm and personal, where hospitality is just as important as the drink in someone’s hand.
Our values guide the way we operate. We care about consistency, curiosity, humility, hospitality, and doing things the right way even when it is slower or harder. These values show up in how we train our team, how we support our wholesale partners, and how we show up in our community. They help us make decisions that are not just good for the bottom line but good for people.
When we became the owners of Donut Star this past June, we were drawn to it for the same reason. Donut Star has been a community staple for fifty years. It already had a strong sense of connection, and our goal has been to honor that history and bring the same mission and values into the next chapter. Whether someone is grabbing a dozen on a Sunday morning or picking up a coffee on their way to work, we want both brands to feel grounded in genuine care.
What sets us apart is that we are not trying to be the trendiest or the flashiest. We are focused on being steady, thoughtful, and people first. We are most proud of the trust customers give us. If readers take anything away, I hope it is that Tapestry and Donut Star exist to create moments of connection. Great coffee and great donuts are just the way we get there.
How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happy is seeing the impact our work has on people. When I walk into the cafe or one of the donut shops and see customers chatting with our staff, catching up with friends, or bringing their kids in for a treat, it reminds me why we do this. Those small moments of connection are the whole point.
I also get a lot of joy from watching our team grow. Seeing someone gain confidence, take ownership, or step into leadership is one of the most rewarding parts of this work. We have built a culture where people care about the product and about each other, and watching that take shape day by day is something I am really proud of.
On a personal level, I’m happiest when I’m building something meaningful with people I care about. Whether it is developing new offerings, improving our systems, or planning the next phase of growth, I enjoy the process of taking an idea and turning it into something real. It is challenging work, but it is fulfilling, and it motivates me to keep getting better.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tapestrycoffeemn.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tapestrycoffeemn
