It’s time for Page Two: News that might not make the front page for Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
We recently did an informal poll on coffee shops in downtown Palmer. 53 people answered. The top choice for sitting and drinking a cup of joe was Alauda Coffeehouse.
According to Bloomberg News Service, coffee prices have risen 41% since September 2024 due to the double-whammy of tariffs and climate change.
But even with those prices, people of the Valley continue to go to coffeeshops. We counted nine sit-down coffee shops in the downtown Palmer area alone.
We wondered if a coffee shop can thrive under these conditions, so we sent Page-Two reporter David Cheezem to Alauda Coffeehouse to find out.
It was a tough job, but someone had to do it.
Alauda is on the second floor of Poppy Lane gift shop, across the street from the pavilion. Its large picture windows look out on the park below, so it feels homey and comfortable even on a dreary, rainy day.
Customers can choose between three types of seating: black, round café style tables and chairs; thick, cushy sofas; or rectangular high tables especially conducive for laptops.
Alauda owner Mega Bergstahlar said she wants her business to be welcoming to a variety of people. Some of her customers “work here in town.” Some “walk here for a midday lunch or just a coffee in the mornings.” She even has customers who drive all the way from Wasilla.
“Mainly,” she said, “I want everyone to feel welcome. I don’t want to exclude anyone.”
Bergstahler grew up in a large family, so she wanted to create a space that is welcoming to people of all ages. Coffee connoisseurs can order a doppio for themselves – and find string cheese sticks for their kids.
So far Bergstahler does not seem worried about the impact of the coffee tariffs. A cup of coffee might cost $4 or $7, she says, but “it is not the same as a restaurant where they’re sitting down and paying $20 or a retail store where they might buy something that’s $40 or $70.”
“I don’t see that much point in worrying, because I just take it as it comes,” she said.
She also doesn’t spend a lot of time worrying about the competitive environment, with eight other coffee shops in a small area. Palmer is very “community driven,” she said. She just focuses on “the connections I make and the opportunities I give for people to come and meet each other.”
“Even if there’s other coffee shops or even if there’s other café style stores, I think there’s room for all of that and I think we can support each other if we all focus on the community,” she said.
Tune in next Tuesday for another coffee shop review.
It’s election day. If you haven’t voted yet, polls are open until 8 p.m. tonight.
The Palmer City Council meets at 6 p.m. tonight. The application period for the vacant city council seat has been extended to Friday November 7 at 5 p.m.
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This Page Two article was written by David Cheezem with Lee Henrikson and Emily Forstner. If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.
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That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.