Brad, Paulette, and Lori

CRANE COFFEE began in September 1991 in Omaha, NE by its founders, Paulette and Steve Hammerstrom. Operating under the name "Espresso Express", they opened an espresso cart in the Brandeis Building in downtown Omaha. They were opening a new business and introducing a new product in an area where there was no existing demand for the product. This effort was moderately successful. In February 1992, they relocated to the 50th & Dodge area. This location began developing very well. Still operating as "Espresso Express" they opened a second location. Omaha's FIRST hospital espresso bar, at St. Joseph Hospital. During these years they continued to grow and develop their business plan.

Upon opening a new location Steve and Paulette decided on a name change. On May 21, 1993, they opened Omaha's famous coffee house in the Old Market called "13th Street Coffee Company." Opening a coffee house was both exciting and risky for two people who had never operated their own business before. Neither had ever owned a business before, but "we had a vision and stuck to it," Paulette said. They later sold 13th Street Coffee Company in November 1999. After the success of 13th Street Coffee, the Hammerstroms' opened the first Crane Coffee location. On May 23, 1995, they opened the first Crane Coffee at 77th & Cass. This was Omaha's first coffee house and drive-thru combination.

They had a dream of opening a drive-thru only coffee business. They designed their own building in 1993 and began looking for other locations. Their dream was realized in 1997, the day after Thanksgiving, they opened the Crane Coffee test Drive-Thru at Eagle Run Square on 129th & Maple. Offering a high level of service, quality beverages and our building design, was a very big hit with the customers. The fourth location was another coffee house & drive-thru combination, which they opened on February 16, 1998. It is located at 119th & Pacific. 1999 proved to be a whirlwind of a year for Steve and Paulette. On June 16, 1999, they opened a coffee house-only location at 132nd & Center. (This store was later closed in December 2004). They began their own baking operation for all locations on July 5, 1999 from the 60th & Center Street store. In October 1999, they also opened a coffee house & drive-thru combination store at 84th & Spring. In April 2006, a coffee bar was opened at Methodist Hospital. In April 2006, another drive-thru was opened at 153rd & Weir.

Although, Crane was very successful in 2006 opening many locations it also represented a time of great change in the company. Steve died in 2006 after a long battle with cancer. Paulette continued to operate Crane Coffee until September 2008 when she sold the company to Lori & Brad Foerster. "We are evolving into the next generation of Crane Coffee," Paulette said.

Lori and Brad were just what Crane Coffee need for the next chapter in the story of this outstanding company. They respect and honor the history of Crane Coffee while moving the business to the next level. Today there are seven coffee shops across Omaha that are well-established and positioned to compete with the larger national chains. That is just what Steve and Paulette envisioned all those years ago.