CEDAR COFFEE’S NEW CHAPTER: SWEET TOOTH WITH SUPPORT FROM SNAP
SPOKANE, Wash. – Igor and Iryna, the husband-and-wife team behind Cedar Coffee, have expanded their entrepreneurial vision by opening Sweet Tooth, an artisan donut shop and bakery on Spokane’s South Hill.
“SNAP is my favorite organization in Spokane. I started to work with SNAP, 10, almost 20 years ago,” Igor reflected. “They helped me open my first business, Cedar Coffee, and then they helped me open a second business, Sweet Tooth. They gave me a good loan. If someone wants help, go to SNAP.” Sweet Tooth is located at 1230 S. Grand Blvd. in Spokane, Washington.
A FOUNDATION BUILT ON COFFEE AND COMMUNITY
Igor and Iryna first arrived in Spokane in 2015 after fleeing Ukraine, bringing with them a deep love of coffee and community. Igor, who previously owned several cafés back home, and Iryna quickly became regulars at Coeur Coffeehouse on Monroe Street. When Coeur closed in 2017, the couple wanted to carry forward what the café had meant to them, but starting a business in a new country with limited financial resources seemed daunting.
That’s where SNAP Financial Access came in. With support from SNAP’s small business lending and coaching programs, the couple were able to secure the resources they needed to open Cedar Coffee in November 2017, in the very same building where Coeur had once stood.
“SNAP is the best of the best,” Igor said. “This organization helped me to open this business. They gave me a good loan. If someone wants help, go to SNAP”.
Cedar Coffee quickly gained a loyal following due to Igor’s expertise in roasting beans in-house, crafting careful drinks, steeping premium teas, and handcrafting artisan syrups.
“Sweet Tooth is not like other donut shops, because our donuts are absolutely different,” Igor added. “We use different ingredients, different dough, different everything. We are a unique donut shop.”
FROM CEDAR’S SUCCESS TO SWEET TOOTH
Seven years later, Igor and Iryna are expanding their vision with Sweet Tooth. Igor explained that the decision to move into baking was a simple one.
“I decided to open a donut shop because before I made coffee and coffee with donuts together is more interesting. It’s more tasty. It’s more popular, and I like it,” Igor said. “It’s an American tradition. I want to do this traditional American coffee and donuts”.
Sweet Tooth Details:
• Location: 1230 S. Grand Blvd., Spokane, WA
Igor detailed how he makes the product distinct:
“First of all, we use 24-hour brioche and cake dough,” he explained. “More importantly we use interesting glaze,” such as glaze from natural fruits, with “no preservatives. No chemicals or artificial colors. It’s important”.
While Igor is the face of the operation, his family is deeply involved. His seventeen-year-old son, Emil, helps him make the donuts each morning before attending Mt. Spokane High School. Igor also jokes about the management structure he shares with his wife, stating she has “51% control over their operations compared to his 49%”.
In addition to artisan donuts, Sweet Tooth is also a destination for “professionally prepared high-quality coffee”.
From Cedar Coffee’s cozy café on Monroe Street to Sweet Tooth’s bright new space, Igor and Iryna’s businesses stand as symbols of resilience, creativity, and community. Igor remains a staunch advocate for the organization that helped make it possible.
“SNAP is a really good organization, and I like it. I recommend everyone work with SNAP,” Igor remarked. “And I want to say a great thank you for SNAP, and everyone who works at SNAP. Thank you again”.
