Bring Cup and Kettle Home
0% complete
$4,625 raised of
31 donations
Cup & Kettle Tea Company is preparing to reopen in a new retail space at Simon Mall in Bloomington, Indiana. For years, Cup & Kettle has been more than a tea shop. It has been a place for connection, conversation, and community, and Jessica Messmer has poured her heart into making it a space where people feel welcome, cared for, and connected.
Many people have seen in the paper and recent press that Cup & Kettle has already opened a warehouse for blending tea in a safe environment. That was an important step forward. Now the next need is a retail space where people can actually come in, shop, reconnect, and experience Cup & Kettle in person again during the holiday gifting season, with the longer-term hope of reopening the cafe.
This need became even more urgent after Jessica experienced a significant and unexpected water leak that caused serious damage and financial disruption. What should have been manageable quickly turned into a major setback. Jessica is also a single mom raising two girls, so this has affected far more than the business alone.
Adam Nahas has spent years building community in Bloomington as well. He ran Artisan Alley in Bloomington for 12 years and has been an arts, nonprofit, and community advocate. After learning he had cancer, Adam has been battling it since 2023. He is doing better now and is ready to get back to building community, with Cup & Kettle now being where he is putting his effort and focus.
At the same time, Jessica and Adam Nahas are working tirelessly without income while investing everything they have into this new space. They are both trying to support their families, pay their bills, and keep moving this project forward, with very little room for another financial hit.
Help us build our new home. The new Simon Mall space is a chance to create something really special: a place where people can find a favorite tea, discover a new blend, learn about tea, create their own blend, attend classes and events, find a great gift, meet up with friends, and simply spend time together. Cup & Kettle is not just reopening a store. It is rebuilding a place where people can gather, where small conversations can turn into big ideas, and where community can keep growing.
- Your support will help cover:
- Renovation and buildout to get the space ready for customers
- Fixtures and equipment, including shelving, displays, and tea equipment
- Inventory to put tea back on the shelves
- Packaging and supplies needed to prepare and sell products
- Technology and point-of-sale systems to get the business up and running
- Signage and marketing to let Bloomington know Cup & Kettle is back
- Opening expenses such as insurance, permits, professional services, and other costs that come with opening the doors
- Every milestone moves this forward:
- 15% of our goal, helps us begin tackling essential startup expenses.
- 30% of our goal, helps us build the shop with fixtures, shelving, equipment, and infrastructure.
- 45% of our goal, helps us fill the shelves with inventory, packaging, and retail setup.
- 60% of our goal, helps cover signage, technology, marketing, and opening expenses.
- 75% of our goal, helps us take care of the finishing touches that make the space feel ready.
- 100% of our goal, gives Cup & Kettle the wiggle room needed for any additional staffing in the early stage as we get used to operating two locations.
If Cup & Kettle has ever given you comfort, connection, or a place to belong, please consider donating or sharing this fundraiser. Every bit of support helps bring this space closer to reopening and helps Jessica and Adam keep building something meaningful for Bloomington. The kettle is coming back, and when those doors open, there will be a seat waiting.