Sydlee, a new coffee shop, is planned in early 2023

Elisa Sand, Aberdeen News
·6 min read
From left, Lee Kirschman, Sydni Rux and Danae Kirschman are getting ready to open a new coffee shop in Aberdeen in early 2023.
From left, Lee Kirschman, Sydni Rux and Danae Kirschman are getting ready to open a new coffee shop in Aberdeen in early 2023.

A new coffee shop is quietly getting ready for an early 2023 opening in Aberdeen.

Sydlee will be opening at 816 Sixth Ave. S.E., which is the former location for Jones Drug. Danae Kirschman, her son Lee and his girlfriend Sydni Rux will be running the shop. Kirschman and her son moved to Aberdeen from Glenham in 2001.

Lee said initially they hoped to open a small drive-up place, but this spot became available. Already set up with a drive-up window and a spacious area for food and beverage prep, both Kirschmans agree the place is idea.

After getting a business management degree from Presentation College, Danae said she started thinking about starting her own business and landed on the idea of a coffee shop because of her son and his girlfriend's affinity for coffee.

While Aberdeen already has a selection of coffee options, Lee's not worried about making a mark.

"It's not too hard to make it really good," he said.

From there, they plan on adding those elegant touches, like a stencil design on the top of the drink.

Danae said they also plan on using organic syrups and Fred's Coffee, a family-owned business out of North Dakota. Other regionally made products will also be available like Mohr Honey from Columbia.

Both Danae and Lee said the coffee shop is a way to give back to the community, much like Danae's mom, Cindy Kirschman did. Cindy Kirschman died in May, but it was only after she was gone that Danae and Lee found out how much she did in Northeastern South Dakota.

"That's the energy we wanted to give back to the community," Danae said.

"She would help her neighbor at any cost," Lee said.

Cindy Kirschman worked for Black Hills Special Services helping youth transition to living on their own.

Lee said at first, he and his girlfriend weren't sure about the name of the coffee shop, but after sitting with it for a while, he came around to the idea. Plus, he said, it also sounds like Cindy, which is fitting, he said.

While the space is still coming together, Lee envisions a comfortable seating area with guitars on one of the walls and the inside will also feature paintings around the doorway and the back wall completed by local artist Alex Harper.

A selection of baked goods will also be available for customers.

This and that

  • Basin Electric is pursuing its largest single-site electric generation project since the 1980s with 583 megawatts of natural gas generation near its Pioneer Generation Station northwest of Williston, N.D. Part of the system will be in service in 2025 with the rest in service in 2026.

  • Carson Walker has been hired as CEO for South Dakota News Watch. His new position takes effect Jan. 1, 2023. Walker has more than 30 years' experience in South Dakota as a broadcast and newspaper journalist.

  • DemKota Ranch Beef recently announced the company issued $1.7 million in employee incentive bonuses. The bonuses amounted to an average of $3,200 per employee and wer based on performance, employee attendance and hours worked.

  • Lucas Lorenz, financial advisor for Edward Jones in Aberdeen, received the Certified Financial Planner certification granted by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.

  • The Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce will host a pre-legislative luncheon on Jan. 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kessler's Champions Club room at the Northern State University Barnett Center. Cost is $40 for chamber members and $50 for non-members. Lunch will be served. The lunch will feature local and area legislators as well as local lobbyist Julie Johnson. Call 605-225-2860 for more information or email info@aberdeen-chamber.com.

  • Brown County has received a $770,000 Community Development Block Grant to assist the Aberdeen Family YMCA with its expansion of the Glenna and Rodney Fouberg Youth Development Center.

  • The South Dakota Community Foundation's Beyond Idea Grant program, offered in partnership with the Bush Foundation, announced recent grant awards. Regional recipients include the Northeast South Dakota Community Action Program in Sisseton, $100,000; and Aberdeen Development Corp., $26,500. The Aberdeen Development Corp. grant will help develop a remote-able workforce through tech training and prepare business owners and entrepreneurs to grow their remote workforce.

  • Dacotah Bank has been listed as one of the best banks to work for in 2022 by American Banker. This is the fifth-consecutive year for the bank's recognition. In the 2022 ranking, Dacotah Bank is ranked 22. It was ranked No. 39 in 2021 and No. 28 in 2020. The Best Banks to Work For program, which was initiated in 2013 by American Banker and Best Companies Group, identifies, recognizes and honors U.S. banks for outstanding employee satisfaction.

  • The Salvation Army of Aberdeen is asking the public to help meet the need of the organizations funding in the final days of the campaign, which lost three days of fundraising due to weather-related closings last week. The campaign continues until Christmas Eve. Donations can be made in person where there are Red Kettle bell ringers, or online at www.aberdeenredkettle.org. Anyone interested in matching a kettle call 605-225-7410.

  • The Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce is bringing back CART, or the Community Action Response Team. This committee formed in the 1980's after a local manufacturer closed. The goal was to discuss options for local employees. Over the years the group discussed community and regional issues but eventually disbanded. The first CART meeting will be Jan. 5 from 8:30-10 a.m. in the Chamber Conference Room, 514 S. Main St. with subsequent meetings planned on Thursday.

  • Revo Insurance Alliance, in Aberdeen, has partnered with First MainStreet Insurance in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Revo joins the platform as the first partner agency in South Dakota. Second generation owner, Brett Rezatto will remain an active partner and owner in this venture. Joining him as partners in this new entity is Kyle and Korey Maple. The firm’s day-to-day operations will remain the same, and Josh Aho and Amy Giffith will continue to be available to assist business needs and client services. Revo also plans to maintain its local presence in Aberdeen, at 5325 US Highway 12.

  • The annual meeting for United Way of Northeastern South Dakota is Jan. 18, 2023, at 12:45 p.m. at the United Way office building, 13 Second Ave. S.E. The United Way will elect new officers for 2023. A community celebration recognizing the outstanding efforts of the 2022 campaign will be held later this year. For more information about the annual meeting, call 605-225-0212 or email Angie Cleberg at angie@uwnesd.org.

  • Marcia Erickson, chief executive officer for GROW South Dakota was one of two leaders selected for the 2022 Rural Champion Award from the Rural Local Initiative Support Corporation in Washington, D.C. The Rural Champion Award goes to individuals who have helped to elevate, amplify, and advocate for the unique needs of rural communities. Erickson has been a leader for GROW South Dakota for more than 30 years.

This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Sydlee, a new coffee shop, is planned in early 2023