Jae Lim is taking the next step in serving up a special cup of joe.
The manager of south Auburn’s Pazzo Coffee is roasting his own coffee beans to bring out a splendid flavor.
“I want to bring the right taste to customers,” said Lim, a former realtor and Army veteran who went into business last year by opening a spacious coffeehouse. “This is as fresh as you can get. I want good quality coffee, and (this is) the only way to stay in the market.”
Lim recently acquired a gas-powered roaster to specially brew up blends for customers. A large, top-of-the-line Diedrich roaster rests at the front of Lim’s shop for curious customers to study.
The roaster has the capacity to make 25-28 pounds of coffee daily, 1,200 pounds a month and 15,000 pounds a year.
The goal is to roast 50,000 pounds next year to sell to a growing clientele, near and far.
The machine churns out light, medium and dark roasted premium coffees, as well as holiday blends.
It’s a new aspect of the business, a market Lim is willing to explore after inheriting the coffee shop, previously occupied by Tully’s, in the Forest Park Retail Center last year.
Lim had a successful stint as a realtor before the economy soured. So when a friend, the CEO of Pazzo Coffee, called with an opportunity to run one of his newly established locales, Lim jumped at the chance.
The roaster is the latest twist to a business trying to reach more customers.
Lim intends to supply a wide market, including local businesses, churches and other groups.
“I’m the factory here,” he said.
Elsewhere
• Auburn’s Exel Inc.,
The layoffs specifically involve 136 part- and full-time workers, including 10 salaried positions, the notice said.
According to a company spokesperson, Exel hopes to entertain a new third logistics party to fill the void at the Auburn location.
The company’s layoff notice was issued Nov. 2.
• Columbia Bank welcomes Diane C. Fritschy, vice president and Auburn branch manager. In addition to overseeing the day-to-day branch functions, Fritschy will be working to develop and strengthen the bank’s relationship with customers and businesses in Auburn.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to continue serving the Auburn community and representing a strong and well respected community bank,” Fritschy said.
Fritschy brings 36 years of banking experience in operations, relationship and business development, and optimum customer experience to her new role.
She previously worked for 31 years at Washington Mutual Bank in Auburn.
• American Tire Distributors, Inc., recently announced a 10-year lease of 126,306 square feet at Auburn 18, 521 8th St. SW, located west of the SuperMall of the Great Northwest and Interurban Trail.
American Tire Distributor’s lease will bring the 285,000 square foot industrial park to 100-percent occupancy, according to Ed Hogan, CB Richard Ellis, who represented Guardian Life of New York, the owner of Auburn 18, in the lease transaction.
“We are delighted to be the new home for ATD’s first Washington state distribution center,” Hogan said. “We are excited about the opportunities to collaborate with American Tire Distributors to make its Auburn distribution center successful and its employees welcome in our town.”
American Tire Distributor’s Auburn facility will be the company’s first in the state and only the second one in the Pacific Northwest. It is expected to open in March 2011 and will initially employ 20 people.
American Tire Distributors, founded in 1935 and headquartered in Huntersville, N.C., operates 88 distribution centers nationally.
