A couple from Omaha hopes to bring a place of peace with their new coffee shop in downtown Lincoln.
Last month, Abby and Ryan McLeay opened Zen Coffee in Lincoln, their fourth coffee shop since 2017. The shop is located in between two bars at 1339 O St. Suite 2, and the McLeays said they hope to help “rejuvenate†the day life in a place typically known for its nightlife.
They ended up filling a former PepperJax location in order to be close to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln but also to be surrounded by downtown businesses.
“You have such unique individuals coming in and out and it’s just a fun atmosphere to be in,†Abby said. “Even Husker game day and all of that. It’s really cool, I like that vibe.â€
Since coming to Lincoln, the couple has been busy building connections with nearby bookstore owners and art coalitions, all working to bring life back to the area.
“It’s kind of fun with the networking, meeting new people and seeing how things are kind of intertwined with that,†Ryan said.
The McLeays hope to continue building connections with the community by hosting events such as their Tailgate events on Oct. 12 and 19 where local businesses will be highlighted.
Before opening Zen, Abby had a long history working in corporate coffee shops such as Scooter’s Coffee and Starbucks. After working her way up, she thought that someday it would be nice to open a local shop of her own.
Ryan, who married Abby in 2019, came from a background of business and construction and was the perfect partner for not only life, but for Abby’s coffee dream.
Before Abby and Ryan’s happily ever after began, they came across another love story with coffee in Cannon Beach, Oregon. In 2016, the couple had traveled out to the coast of Oregon where they found a little coffee shop named Insomnia Coffee Company.
“We would go there every day, and it was one day we were talking about opening up our own shop,†Abby said.
The couple asked the shop about possibly franchising, and while the owners said no, they were originating a coffee roastery, which paved the way for Zen Coffee. A year later, the McLeay’s opened their first coffee shop in Omaha, where they served coffee roasted by Dapper & Wise, the official sister company of Insomnia.
“We called it Zen because when I was working in the chaos of Scooter’s, I would always be like, ‘I want my little Zen space,’†Abby said. “Whenever I think of going into a coffee shop, or working in a coffee shop, I think of what I want to provide to my customers and it’s just that moment of peace.â€
She wanted the name to replicate the experience she hopes to provide to her customers where they can be treated with food and drinks without being overloaded by stimuli.
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“Over the years, that has really just been something that has built on as Zen has grown,†Abby said. “It really is about the coffee, it’s about the people, just the community, the vibe, all of that.â€
After opening three locations in Omaha, Abby said they had a lot of requests to open a Lincoln location.
“We got a lot of people that were traveling to Omaha for us, which is awesome. That’s such a compliment,†Abby said.
Ryan said when designing the Lincoln location, they wanted to replicate the peacefulness of Zen in the decor and atmosphere. There’s flowers and greenery surrounding the coffee house, quiet music and handmade baked goods.
“Whether you’re studying or meeting someone or having a business meeting, it’s a nice welcoming environment,†Ryan said.
Zen Coffee’s toast and coffee flights have transported the business more than Abby and Ryan could have ever expected. They began serving them after the COVID-19 pandemic when people were just starting to reconnect outside of homes.
“It’s just a really great way to connect with people and sit down and have a conversation,†Ryan said.
Flights range from $20 to $28 and can be made with four options of lemonade, coffee or toast. Each drink is about 7 1/2 ounces and can include anything from the main menu, seasonal options or the secret menu except for smoothies.
“It’s the ability to try multiple things at once,†Abby said. “I did not think people would be that excited to try that much, but to be able to just have a little piece of each, it’s a fun way to sample everything.
In addition to serving coffee, tea, smoothies and lemonade, Abby said they wanted to cater toward everyone who walks inside their coffee shop by providing gluten-free and vegan options.
“We try to hit it all and just make it a place for everyone,†Abby said. “Same with price points as well as being able to offer as much as we can.â€
Drinks range from $2 to $7.50 and happy hour occurs weekdays from noon to 2 p.m.
The McLeays also want to focus on being environmentally friendly through their coffee shops. The couple strives to find ways to recycle and reuse such as sourcing their coffee beans from producers who utilize natural volcanic soil and ash in their fertilizer.
“We’ve always composted and recycled,†Ryan said. “Even our first location, I know we had a lot of upcycled or repurposed furniture and things and so we try as much as we can to be environmentally friendly, but also trendy.â€
A Zen Coffee "flight" of drinks including a Belgian waffle latte (left), lavender lemonade, pistachio white mocha and the Supernova. The flights allow customers to try various sample-sized drinks.