Coffee bar changes ownership
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After 18 years of serving coffee in Mount Ayr, Jamie Miller is offering John and Candace Stieh an opportunity to make the coffee shop their own. At the end of December, The Mill transitioned ownership and reopened on January 2, 2024 as HTH Outdoors – Mama and Papa Bear Coffee Bar.
While the coffee and breakfast menu is staying the same, the store will cater to outdoor enthusiasts. John plans to stock the store with a variety of basic supplies and accessories.
Candace, known as Candy by those who have frequented the coffee shop the past three years, will soon be managing the store along side her husband.
“We are very thankful for Jamie Miller. If it were not for Jamie, we would not be here in Mount Ayr,” stated Candace, “We would have gone to Missouri or still be on the road.”
The couple has been operating Home Town Trinity Heros as a pop-up shop business, making stops at vendor shows and other venues.
Many people likely know the business as the place to get The General’s Hot Sauce, or FRAG OUT FLAVOR spice blends, and talk shop about improving shooting accuracy using the MantisX training system.
“We were looking to move closer to family, but there’s a lot of good things here,” says Candace. “Mount Ayr has a lot to offer,” John agreed, “we just want to build on that.”
HTH Outdoors supports and offers law enforcement and/or veteran owned products, accessories and novelties. John plans to expand the store to offer a variety of tactical gear, body armor, sights, optics, ammunition for hand guns, rifles and shotguns, outdoor accessories, and basic apparel.
They are not a firearms dealer, and are not looking to compete with other local businesses. “I want to compliment what others have, and refer other people for things or services I don’t provide.”
Additionally, John is a NRA Certified Range Safety Officer and is working towards certification. He plans to offer small safety classes, including a handgun fundamentals class in the future. With access to an outdoor range, John enjoys working with others to get comfortable shooting a firearm, and improving accuracy.
Their goal is to expand and help support firefighters, law enforcement, and emergency responders. “I want to offer the best price I can to support them in their jobs.” He also hopes to get better connected with archers, bow hunters, shot gun hunters, those who fish, and other outdoor enthusiasts to learn how he can support them.
John’s passion for encouraging and supporting service members is the main reason for expanding HTH Outdoors. “I’d like to look at ways to get kids and the community more involved with first responders, and bring out the positive side of going into those fields,” says John, “That’s always been my goal.”
“I joined the military in 1993 and served during Desert Storm,” recalls John, “my step dad, who was a Vietnam Veteran, passed away during my duty and I didn’t finish out my service the way I wanted to.”
Although John was honorably discharged from service, he later helped steer his brother from a bad road to a positive one. “My brother did get to accomplish it, he served 8 years” stated John, “and our son Harley is deployed right now, he left right after Thanksgiving.”
John is excited about starting a “Wall of Heroes” once they get up and going. This special display will allow people to bring in a framed picture of someone who is a hero in their life.
“Heros come in a variety of forms,” says John, “it could be a coach, teacher, parent, law enforcement officer or emergency responder, someone who has been an influence in your life.”
