Base Camp Coffee, a family affair
Top photo: Krystal Alleman, Maddy Marek, Maizie Burns, Brittany Rhodes and Rich Chatfield. Left photo: Base Camp Coffee. Right photo: Maddy Marek busy at work, wipes down the state-of-the-art espresso machine after making a drink last Friday morning.
Photos by CHANSE WATSON
KINGSTON — The Chatfield family is making a name for themselves in the Silver Valley.
Base Camp Coffee celebrated its grand opening last Friday and owners Dick and Judy Chatfield couldn’t be more excited.
The Silver Valley natives bought the North Fork River Stop around four years ago, while also acquiring the land next door. Their son, Rich Chatfield who manages the North Fork River Stop, recognized a need for a coffee shop in the area as he was asked by travelers where they could get a caffeine fix, before heading up the river. The coffee shop, located at the corner of Coeur d’Alene River Road and Riverview Drive, will be managed by Shelley Harty, the sister of Rich and daughter of Dick and Judy.
Chatfield realized that a drive-through-only coffee stand wouldn’t be the way to go.
“People will be driving through with their RV’s and campers, and can stop at the North Fork store to pick up food and supplies, while someone else can stop into the coffee shop.”
This shop needed to have more space and the ability to handle the capacity of the busy months of the summer.
The Chatfield's have been working on the design and motif of the building for two years. The interior design was completed by Harty, while the logo was designed by co-manager Brittany Wild. They attended coffee conventions in Seattle to assist in understanding the business, as well as researching the best equipment.
When the design was finished, it took a year and a half to build and was completely custom made. As is the case with many businesses, there were delays because of shortages and wait times for items to be shipped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, something that lost them a month and a half was waiting for a $2 plumbing fixture.
The coffee shop features several tech amenities including charging ports for phones, computers, and other devices. The stand will also provide high-speed, low-latency broadband internet from Starlink — making it the perfect location to stop at before heading up the river and losing phone service.
Base Camp Coffee will be using coffee brewed from the Spokane-based company Cravens Coffee. The new blend, created through Cravens Coffee, is called the Basecamp Blend. Plans for the coffee shop include food items are in the works, as the building does have a full kitchen. Currently though, the lobby and kitchen are not open, but customers are welcome to drive through and grab a coffee, flavored red bull, and/or a bagel!