common GROUND Family businesses excel with coffee, clothing and customer service BY WENDY KING
Most people consider it a bargain when they get a “two-fer” — a two-for-one. When the Keating family took over an old bank building in Russell, that’s just what the town got: Bin 22, a funky coffee shop; and Hometown Glory, an on-trend clothing store.
Inspired both by their travels and their rural roots, Mark and Claudia Keating decided to open Bin 22 Coffee Company, a place to offer high quality espresso-based drinks like those they had enjoyed in Europe. They saw potential in an old brick bank building on the main street in town. After major renovations, it now houses Bin 22 and the fashion boutique owned by Mark’s niece, Jessica Keating. “We’re very aware that small towns need to offer something if they are to
stay viable, and we thought, ‘Russell needs that,’ ” Claudia says. “We’re just so proud of how it all turned out.” Jessica, 31, studied fashion marketing at Olds College, and Hometown Glory grew out of her passion for clothes. “I just felt that clothing for our age at a good price point was missing and I thought I could bring that so people wouldn’t always have travel to the city,” she says. “I wanted to offer something that would keep up with the trends in Russell.” A coffee shop
and a clothing store in one building might seem like an odd combination but the two businesses share common philosophical ground: A recognition they could provide a needed service; stellar customer relations; and an enjoyable atmosphere. Both tie customer experience to a well- considered esthetic. Bin 22 has a “cool but cozy” urban farm decor, with warm, inviting colours, barnboard from the Keating’s farm and scoops from an old grain elevator.
december 2017
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