Sundae Brew: A Recipe for Business Success

Start with 1 cup of childhood dreams: Since she was 13, Nicole Evans has dreamed of owning her own bakery. After some time, she moved on from these dreams to pursue a degree in business and began working as the Center Director for the Small Business Development Center in Grand Forks, ND. 

Add 1 ounce of coincidence: Despite putting her baking dreams on the back burner, fate had other plans. In 2006, Nicole stumbled into crafting her brother’s wedding cake, setting into motion the start of her entrepreneurship journey as her name began to spread.   

Mix in 1 dash of entrepreneurial spirit: In no time, Nicole found herself making bars, cakes, and anything baked! With a supportive husband and a town looking for more, Nicole purchased a building in Hillsboro, ND where she lived. In 2022, Sundae Brew opened with coffee, ice cream, desserts, and deep-fried foods!

“I kept hearing, ‘I wish we had a coffee shop,’ ‘I wish we had a place for kids to go,’ ‘I wish we had ice cream’…and I wanted to make those wishes come true.” – Nicole 

Pour in 1 SBA 504 loan (the secret ingredient!): Through the SBA 504 loan from Dakota Business Lending, in partnership with Choice Bank, Nicole found the financing needed for Sundae Brew’s land, building, renovations, and new equipment. She also partnered with Bank of North Dakota to utilize their Flex Pace program and the City of Hillsboro for a Community Match.

“It is awesome to see a vision from a customer come to fruition with the help of SBA 504 loans.” – Joe Demester, Business Banker at Choice Bank   

Sprinkle with employees: 

With 9 employees to start, Sundae Brew provided work for local high school students who often found job opportunities limited in Hillsboro.  A new community location for all to enjoy, Sundae Brew quickly became a place of warm welcomes and familiar smiles.  

“My favorite part of the business? Definitely watching the employees bloom and grow!” – Nicole 

Add a Pinch of Advice: Nicole stresses the importance of patience and calculation throughout the process of building a business.

“Be patient – make sure you have everything you need beforehand, even down to the fork… Understand you are dedicated to the business, you really have to put in the time and effort.” – Nicole  

Icing on the cake: In 2023, Sundae Brew was awarded the title of “recommended” on Guru and continues to grow in popularity in the community of Hillsboro and beyond.