Clear Lake Couple Blends Skincare and Coffee in New Downtown St. Cloud Shop

(KNSI) – A Clear Lake couple has turned their cottage industry passions into the newest storefront in downtown St. Cloud, combining skincare and coffee into one unique shop.

David and Monique Kridler are the owners of Danique Beauty & The Beans at 710 West St. Germaine Street. After seven years on the farmers’ market and craft show circuit, they decided to take the leap with a brick-and-mortar location.

Jake Judd/KNSI News

The company will be selling its own line of beauty creams and lotions, along with everything a homebrew coffee lover could need. The shop will be selling things like coffee grinders, French presses, roasted coffee from across Minnesota and coffee accessories.

David told KNSI News how they came up with the name. “The name of the shop is Danique Beauty and the Beans. Danique is kind of a mash of my name and Monique’s name. Monique has been making soaps, lotions, and skincare products for close to five years now. I’ve been roasting coffee for about eight years. So we are kind of mashing the two ideas up.”

While David handles the coffee side of the business, Monique focuses on skincare. She started dabbling in creams and lotions, looking for a way to help bring people suffering from skin irritation some relief. “She initially developed the formula for eczema. A lot of people have skin rashes and things like that. While the soap is not exclusive to that, that was the basis for getting started.”

Since then, she has developed a whole line of skincare products and creams, including their popular tattoo cream and natural deodorants. The shop also features work from local artists and collaborates with a dozen local crafters.

Danique held its soft opening last week and is preparing for its grand opening on Friday, August 15th.

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