Help Save Tredwell

The Tredwell family needs your help. Five years ago, I had a dream. Create a place where people could feel at home. A place where everyone could feel loved. Create a place to belong.

I started Tredwell Coffee in Aurora and fell in love not only with the city—I fell more in love with all of you. Every day, I had the honor of serving each of you, listening to all of your stories, and getting to be part of your day. I was humbled by every good review and the way you all embraced a start-up coffee shop. Being on the river in Aurora, has been such a beautiful thing for us. To make it worse we have started making the best friends in Wheaton, that anyone could ask for. We have a belief from the core of us to have a coffee shop with a dream to not just be in the community but to be a part of the community. this isn't a "feelgood" phrase...it is our honest truth.

When COVID hit, it hit us hard. We fought to stay open and were one of the few businesses in downtown Aurora that opened as soon as restrictions allowed. But it came with a price. We received almost no help from governmental grants or programs. Out of all the "promised" help for small businesses, we only received one-third of the PPP that we qualified for. Unfortunately, we had to make a decision: close our doors for good or take out high-interest loans to stay open. The hope was that increased sales and future aid would level it all out and we would be fine.

Come 2021, traction took hold, and business increased. We launched a second location in Wheaton. Again, we fell in love with all the amazing college students and groups of people who chose to hang out on our couches each week. We were becoming optimistic about the future. Then supply chain shortages took the wind out of our sails. We had to think outside the box to get simple things like cups, lids, and straws, which cost 2-3x more than we were originally paying.

2022 was our best sales year on record, but it wasn't enough to satisfy the debt of the high-interest loans we had to incur during COVID. And expenses continued to soar through inflation to the point where we now make little to no profit on our food items—even after raising prices for the first time since we opened.

And the clincher. My health has greatly declined over the past year. Since 2016, I've had 5 major surgeries on my cervical spine, a major heart attack in 2021, and a continued battle with fibromyalgia and Lyme disease. And to top it all off, I've had COVID three times. Just two days ago, I got out of the hospital from my most recent surgery to repair a failed fusion in my neck. I've worked hard to overcome the pain and reduced mobility, but I've been almost completely out of commission since January until I could have this most recent surgery.

And now ... the reason why I've started this GoFundMe. After fighting as hard as I can, I don't have many options, and I'm out of strength. The money has been exhausted. As of now, I have no choice but to close both stores this week and potentially file bankruptcy. Our last day open at both stores will be this Wednesday, March 22.

So this is why I'm reaching out to you. If Tredwell has added a bright spot to your days or helped you to "tread well" in your life ... if you want to see a simple coffee shop with a dream survive in one of the harshest times for a small business ... would you consider donating to help us through this difficult situation?

My ultimate goal is to raise enough money to keep both stores open. I understand that it may be too much to hope for. Your donation would help us pay off our high-interest loans and help ensure that all 34 employees receive their full pay. One of my highest priorities in owning a business is making sure that my employees are paid properly and on time. Unfortunately, this has been harder and harder to keep up with lately. Our employees have been SO patient and positive with us that this makes for an even bigger gut punch to me. We are pursuing funds from other sources and hoping to find some financial assistance through the recent grant programs that have been announced by the city and state. However, we need all the help we can get.

Ultimately, my health and COVID repercussions are the reason why Tredwell is drowning. I have faith that my health is on the mend now that I just had surgery, which makes this timing all the more painful.

If you've read this far, thank you for giving your time. If you can help financially, my family and I have nothing but humble gratitude that you would take a chance on keeping our dream alive. Even beyond money, if you are aware of any grant or program that we might not know about, we would welcome any advice and all of your prayers.

Thank you, Aurora.

Thank you, Wheaton.

With the utmost gratitude, from myself and all 34 members of the Tredwell family, we love each and every last one of you!

Any donation—large or small—will be greatly appreciated, along with sharing this page. If you are UNABLE to help financially (we understand), then we need your PRAYERS and WELL WISHES.

Regardless of Tredwell's future, we want you to know that you will always be in our hearts.