NAICS Code 71

Location 232 South Broadway, Green Bay, WI 54303

Nearby Businesses The Urban Frog restaurant, Bangkok Garden (a Thai restaurant), A-Bloom Floral & Gifts, Besselli (a women’s clothing store), Yikes Salon, Wild Orchid Weddings & Events

Owner/Manager Jan Oettinger

Special Store Activities Annual benefit concert and regularly scheduled free concerts

Year Opened 18

Website http://www.cupojoy.com

Phone 920-435-3269

E-mail jano@cupojoy.com

Community Profile Green Bay, Wisconsin (Population: 102,313, 10 mile radius population: 204,250), the third largest city in Wisconsin, is located just over 100 miles north of Milwaukee. A sub-basin of Lake Michigan, the city is at the head of its namesake, Green Bay. The city is very industrial with several meatpacking and paper plants utilizing the unique location at the port on the Bay of Green Bay, connecting the Fox River to Lake Michigan. Green Bay has several amenities such as the National Railroad Museum, the Neville Public Museum (housing various art, history and science exhibits), the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, and home of the Green Bay Packers national football team since 1919. The downtown’s On Broadway, Inc. has been a Main Street Program since 1995 in an effort to revitalize the Broadway area (located from Mather to Mason Street and from the Fox River West to Ashland Avenue, an area incorporating over 60 city blocks)

Products Sold & Niche Developed

Located in the heart of the On Broadway, Inc. revitalization efforts, Cup O Joy is a coffee shop whose emphasis is their performing arts venue for Christian artists. “The Cup,” as referred to by the locals, brings in artists from across the country to perform. There are just over 100 concerts each year with a 350 person capacity. Interestingly, all shows at the Cup are free with no cover charge, just a request for a donation. Additionally, all workers- from the sound and light technicians to counter workers selling coffee to the administrative bookers and website up-keepers- is entirely volunteer with no paid staff. The free admission and volunteer service help to reinforce the Cup’s purpose- to provide a place where an artist’s music can be heard. As the owner, Jan Oettinger, noted, “The Cup has evolved into a place where artists want to play their music because the people [the audience] are really listening.”

Market Segments Served

The Cup represents every style, every genre of music and thereby draws a great range of audience types. “One night we’ll have grandpas grooving to bluegrass and the next night we’ll have a punk band and teens with dyed-green hair” says Jan. While identifying itself as a Christian-based music venue with all Christian artists, the Cup is a faith-based music center, open to anyone of any faith-base. The Cup also prides itself as being a very family-oriented music venue with no smoking and no alcohol at the show.

Contributions to the Business Community

Cup o Joy has been a strong component in the Green Bay’s downtown revitalization effort. The building housing the Cup had previously changed hands many times causing both the building and the area to deteriorate. When the owners of the Cup had expressed interest in creating a music venue, Green Bay’s mayor and others involved in the On Broadway, Inc. program joined the fundraising committee to establish the Cup, restore the building and work toward revitalizing the area. Cup o Joy is exemplifies how one positive venue can create synergistic growth to revitalize an area and encourage people to come to Green Bay’s Broadway.

Review by: Carissa DeCramer, UW Extension CCED