Meet DSM: Deja Keppler
When Deja Keppler began selling baked goods at the farmers’ market in Indianola, in 2020, she didn’t expect it to lead her to opening her own storefront a year and a half later. “I was able to start at the farmers’ market,” Deja explained. “Then it just slowly snowballed into something larger.”
As her customer base grew and demand for her baked goods increased, Deja began thinking more intentionally about how to expand her offerings. “I wanted to add something that really complimented the breads,” she shared. “So, I spent my off season researching all the different types of olive oil companies and I found a producer that really holds their quality to a high standard, and I wanted to bring that to a small town.” It was during this time when Deja partnered with a producer to create her own olive oil and balsamic products. A Buffalo, New York native, soon found herself dreaming big in her new small-town home.
When market season rolled around again, Deja secured spots at the Indianola Farmers’ Market and the Valley Junction Farmers’ Market in West Des Moines. The new location helped her reach a wider audience and soon customer demand extended beyond her weekly appearances. She began receiving wholesale order requests and started thinking seriously about how to scale her business. The next step in expanding her business was to find a brick-and-mortar location and when a space became available on the Downtown Indianola Square, the former New Yorker jumped at the opportunity.
“All the renovations were done ourselves,” she explained. “That’s where flipping houses with my dad back in New York really came in handy.” After a few months of hard work, finding the right paint and getting the cafe ready, Savor the Rise officially opened in December 2021. Now the coffee shop is a community staple for residents and visitors alike.
For Deja, the most rewarding part of owning a business in a small town is providing a space for people to engage in their community. Whether it’s the group of seniors who come in for book club once a week or college students coming in to do homework, there’s community within the walls of Savor the Rise. “I’ve even made several friends here and it’s funny because even the customers have become friends with each other.”
Deja never thought that she would come from Buffalo, New York, to running a cafe in Indianola, Iowa, but now she can’t imagine life any other way. Deja has never felt more at home than in Greater Des Moines (DSM). The community is welcoming and safe, letting her two kids have the freedom of playing with their friends while Deja runs Savor the Rise.
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