In this episode of From Scratch, Gjoko sits down with Kacie Hollenbeck, an entrepreneur behind several popular local businesses including Krema Coffee Roasters, Oak & Bean, and Wine & Cheese.

What started as a passion for creating welcoming spaces turned into a growing group of businesses across the southwest suburbs of Chicago. But building multiple brands didn’t happen overnight.

In this conversation, Kacie shares:

• How Krema Coffee Roasters expanded into multiple locations

• The mindset required to run several businesses at once

• Lessons learned from scaling while maintaining quality

• Why community plays a huge role in business success

• The challenges most entrepreneurs never talk about

This episode is a real look at entrepreneurship — the risks, the pressure, and the persistence required to build something meaningful. If you're interested in entrepreneurship, small business growth, coffee shop businesses, or scaling a local brand, this conversation offers valuable insights.

Find Kacie and her businesses on social media under her respective business names.