• Home
  • Campus
    • Academics
    • Greek Life
    • SGA
    • Student Life
  • State/Local
    • Around Town
    • Board of Regents
    • National
    • Pierre
    • Vermillion City Council
    • Vermillion Police Department
  • Sports
    • Cross Country
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Men’s Basketball
    • Soccer
    • Swimming/Diving
    • Track and Field
    • Volleyball
    • Women’s Basketball
  • Verve
    • Feature
    • Diversity
    • Events
    • CAB
    • The Vault
  • Opinion
  • E-Edition
  • COVID-19
The Volante
The Volante
  • Home
  • Campus
    • Academics
    • Greek Life
    • SGA
    • Student Life
  • State/Local
    • Around Town
    • Board of Regents
    • National
    • Pierre
    • Vermillion City Council
    • Vermillion Police Department
  • Sports
    • Cross Country
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Men’s Basketball
    • Soccer
    • Swimming/Diving
    • Track and Field
    • Volleyball
    • Women’s Basketball
  • Verve
    • Feature
    • Diversity
    • Events
    • CAB
    • The Vault
  • Opinion
  • E-Edition
  • COVID-19
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
Latte Da serves customers despite challengesVerve
Sandy Marker chats with a drive-thru customer at her coffee shop, Latte Da. Bennett Clary | The Volante
Home
Verve

Latte Da serves customers despite challenges

October 11th, 2020 Bennett Clary Verve comments

Share this story

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest

Coffee is an essential part of many college students’ morning routines. However, if students prefer to buy their coffee, COVID-19 might have created difficulties. Despite this, some shops have thrived.  

Sandy Marker, the owner of Latte Da, became concerned for her safety in March after students were sent home for the semester. Marker lost her only employee and had to reevaluate how her shop would operate.  

“I put a sign up right away that I was closing the lobby and have just had this drive-thru open ever since,” Marker said. 

Marker said her customers have always been nice to her, but said it seems like people are more caring during these uncertain times. However, she said with the changes she made, Marker has had to sacrifice her once intimate connection with customers. 

Now customers are unable to have long conversations with Marker in the drive-thru because she said, there are usually others in line.  

“People would come in and sit and we could talk,” Marker said. “I do miss that a lot because I had a lot of people that liked to come in here and just talk to me.” 

Since closing the lobby, Marker said business has increased because other coffee shops had to close, but she’s been able to keep her drive-thru open. 

Even though business has been great, Marker said she wishes she could have kept her only employee. Marker said she will not hire anyone new due to safety concerns.  

“I didn’t want to hire anyone, and I didn’t want to take the chance of anyone bringing (COVID-19) in here to me because then I’d have to close,” Marker said.  

Marker said people have rallied around her to help keep her business open during these uncertain times. As much as Marker said she appreciates their support and enjoys her work, she said she is unable to work long shifts to keep Latte Da open forever.  

“I’d like to retire in a few years,” Marker said. “I’d like someone to take it over who cares about it as much as I do and hopefully, I’ll find somebody who wants to work hard and do that.” 

Even with retirement on her mind, Marker said she is still trying to enjoy her time before leaving. Marker said she’d like to throw a party, once it’s safe — to show her gratitude for her customers’ support. 

“I truly appreciate how nice they are to me and how they rallied around me during this time to make sure I didn’t close,” Marker said. “I love my customers. They are Latte Da.” 

  • Tags
  • coffee
  • Coffee Beans
  • COVID-19
  • Customers
  • drive-thru
  • Latte Da
  • Sandy Marker

Share this story

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest

Bennett Clary

Related Posts

A peek into an international student's world Campus
January 18th, 2021

A peek into an international student's world

Wellness Center Bingo offers new way to reach fitness goals Campus
January 16th, 2021

Wellness Center Bingo offers new way to reach fitness goals

USD Chamber Singers look forward to spring season Verve
November 16th, 2020

USD Chamber Singers look forward to spring season

Facebook Comments

Latest Stories

Jan 19th 10:51 PM
Campus

Charlie’s bookstore: now just a pickup window?

Jan 19th 9:21 PM
Campus

New president, vice president candidates announced at SGA

Jan 19th 2:24 PM
Sports

Coyote track and field starts strong in home invitational

Jan 19th 9:09 AM
Opinion

Be Your Own Personal Rockstar!

Jan 18th 11:55 PM
Opinion

Mental Health Sick Day: Break from the Stress

Jan 18th 7:37 PM
Sports

The youngest Plitzuweit, GVSU commit, notches 1,000 career points for VHS

Jan 18th 7:11 PM
Opinion

Editorial: These masks might not be comfortable, but they are necessary

Jan 18th 5:29 PM
Campus

A peek into an international student’s world

Jan 18th 5:27 PM
Campus

History Club set to start back up this semester

Jan 18th 4:05 PM
Campus

Clarinet Day will explore history, significance of clarinets

Weather

Coyote News

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K7ERfZmFOg

Advertisement

  • Home
  • Campus
  • State/Local
  • Sports
  • Verve
  • Opinion
  • E-Edition
  • COVID-19
  • Back to top

The Volante

The Volante is the University of South Dakota’s independent student-run newspaper since 1887. Al Neuharth Media Center The Volante 555 N. Dakota Street Vermillion, SD 57069

Advertisement

About

  • About
  • Code of Ethics
  • History
  • Awards
  • Executive Staff
  • Jobs
  • Comment Policy
  • Advertise

Engage

  • Letters to the Editor
  • Contact Us
  • Submit an Overheard
  • Subscribe
  • Submit News Tips

Media Partners

  • Coyote News
  • KAOR 91.1
  • Media & Journalism Department
© The Volante 2015. All rights reserved.