We had the good fortune of connecting with Azadeh Purvis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Azadeh, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
“What was I thinking!?”, is what I was thinking the whole first year!

My husband has owned his own business for over a decade and I went from being his marketing director to learning the business in 2020. Staying home when you own a business was not an option during that time so I jumped in to help in any way learning a lot about the business. When the space for Sidewalk showed up, we had 24 hours to make a decision so I jumped in, signed paperwork, and learned along the way.

My husband and I met and got married at a cute little coffee shop in San Juan Capistrano, California so coffee has been our passion. When we travel, we walk to different coffee shops and learn the neighborhoods, hence the name of our shop, Sidewalk Coffee and Bagel. As for bagels, I had never made one in my life but a little googling and a lot of testing in our kitchen, my team and I were able to make a bagel we are truly proud of today!

“What was I thinking?!” has turned into “I can do this!” with a lot hard work, a pinch of patients, and a ton of support from my family, amazing staff, and our community.

What should our readers know about your business?
My business is Sidewalk Coffee and Bagel. We make and hand roll every bagel in house from scratch. Our bagels are boiled, then baked giving them a chewy inside and crispy outside. Crowed favorites are our asiago and everything bagel. We also serve the best coffee in town! Our partners, Peixoto Coffee, ship their beans from their family farm in Brazil. We are so proud to partner with them. We make our our coffee syrups in house and change our seasonal menus every few months.

I was an Elementary School teacher before I started this business. I do miss teaching but I feel I have brought a unique part of myself as a teacher into this shop as well. I get to work with young people at Sidewalk and I sure hope I am teaching them life lessons they will take with them into their lives.

Starting a business was not easy. I did not realize it but I had bought a money pit and I spent the entire first year fixing things as they broke or if I was lucky catching and fixing them before they broke!! We learned to make bagels on our own. Breads are not an easy task. As the weather changes, so does the recipe! We learned to do latte art and with every heart on a coffee came more love in my heart for a shop that had given me a lot of trouble. Today, I can say I am not only proud but grateful for what I have learned over the last year.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When people come to Queen Creek, we always visit the Olive Mill. Great food and a wonderful space. Their desserts are extraordinary. If we are heading toward Phoenix, we would make a stop at Peixoto Coffee before we head to the Desert Botanical Garden for a stroll. After, dinner at Beckett’s Table. Their biscuits are to die for!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Julia Peixoto is a HUGE part of my success. Julia owns her own coffee shops here in Arizona and the coffee is served in dozen more around the state. He family farm in Brazil produces the coffee we serve and I am so proud to be allowed to bring her coffee to Queen Creek. Julia, her husband, and her staff have been one of the most wonderful partnerships I could ask for!

Robin Jones is my best friend from college and a true entrepreneur. I called her first to ask her if I should even attempt this crazy idea and she gave me great advice on pros and cons of making this choice. She also few out to help me the week before my shop opened. I needed her more than I new I needed her and I was grateful to have her there on opening day.

My husband, Jason Purvis, for believing in me all the days I did not. Every day another thing broke in the shop, he reminded me that I would not only be okay but I would look back and be proud of my accomplishments. He was right!

Website: sidewalkcoffeeco.com

Instagram: sidewalkcoffeeandbagel

Image Credits
Dan and Erin PhotoCinema on Instagram

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