CANNON BEACH — Elk Creek Coffee made its debut on the Fourth of July.

TerrySue Gremaux was a baker for Insomnia Coffee Co. for seven years prior to the Third Street location becoming available for her own place.

“I wanted a place where people would love to work. I wanted a place where it was a fun place to work, and a place where people could come grab a cup of coffee and start their day,” Gremaux said.

With a stained-glass window going into the kitchen and a hand-built wooden shelf by the espresso machine, the small shop has a Cannon Beach feel.

“One of my neighbors, she’s just darling, she’s a stained-glass artist. And she just came over and said, ‘I’m so excited. I want to make you a stained-glass window for your shop. Just because I’m so excited for you,’” Gremaux said. “That’s what this community is like. Everybody is just like, ‘How can I help you?’”

Gremaux, a Portland native, grew up coming to the coast to visit her grandparents. She remembers running around the streets playing and biking through town as a child, and is grateful to be able to live on the coast and give her grandchildren the same experience.

“It’s kind of a dream come true without really knowing this was the dream. As a little kid, I asked for a cash register for so many Christmases in a row, because I just thought it’d be so fun to ring people up,” she said. “I loved the idea of being a shopkeeper and having people come in.”

The shop menu includes classic coffees and also features an Ecola mocha, a spicy mocha with a nod to Ecola Creek, which was formerly Elk Creek.

With the freedom to spend afternoons baking in the back kitchen and lots of ideas on her mind, Gremaux plans to offer customers varieties of scones, muffins, cookies and other baked goods to go with their coffees.

Paty Granillo and Camille Slater, who worked with Gremauxat Insomnia Coffee, bring extensive experience as baristas.

“I couldn’t do this without Paty and Camille. They are a delight, and then it affords me the chance to do the baking that I love,” Gremaux said. “I love making scones and biscuits and muffins and cookies and quiche. And this gives me a little bit more space.”