Cool Beanz offers hot, cool treats

By Barbara Brown
What do you get when you put two sisters-in-law together with a great idea?
You get a store that effectively mixes several interests into a one-stop joint.
Cool Beanz tanning and coffee shop opened in April to offer North Branch something it did not yet have ñ a place where you could drink a mocha latte and make your skin tone match with a quick tan.
Lori Goodroad and Pam Goodroad came up with the idea behind Cool Beanz five years ago. Everything was left on the back burner for a while and late last year, while interest rates were very low, they secured financing for the business.
Before starting work at the coffee shop and indoor tanning salon, Pam Goodroad ran an at-home day care center. Lori Goodroad was a secretary at North Branch High School.
ìWe both just wanted a change,î Pam Goodroad said.
The two hired their friend Debby Stace and started meeting with food, beverage and tanning products consultants.
What they have developed has turned into a fun, relaxed place where anyone can go to get a cup of coffee, a smoothie and sandwiches.
One new drink feature the Goodroads are offering is a 12-hour cold-filtered coffee drink that is much like a chilled espresso.
ìThey are so good, I think weíve already become addicted to them,î Lori Goodroad said.
While you wait for the staff to prepare your sandwich or coffee drink, you can duck into one of the three tanning rooms at the store.
With two lay-down beds, one with an optional face tanner, or the more high intensity stand-up booth, getting a base tan going before the summer sun starts beating down is easy.
Cool Beanz has a varied line of tanning accessories, including lotions that appeal to men, women and teens.
Anyone who tans at Cool Beanz needs to supply their own eye protection goggles or buy them at the store. Lori Goodroad said she has seen research that the goggles can spread infections, even if they are cleaned after each use.
If tanning beds donít appeal to you, you may want to try the storeís airbrush tanning option.
The only one in town, the airbrush tanner fixes a sugar cane derivative onto skin cells to tint the person for a quick, all over look or a touch up for a special event.
The process has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for more than 30 years.
Those getting the sunless tanner can wear undergarments or bathing suits. The product washes out of clothing.
ìItís great if you have a wedding in a couple days and donít have enough time to get a good base tan.î
Even on a cloudy or rainy day, stopping in at Cool Beanz will lift the spirits.
With its walls decorated in bamboo and palm and the scent of tanning lotion in the air, one canít help but enter in a good mood.
ìWe wanted to make this a place where people could go and feel comfortable,î Lori Goodroad said.
Children are welcome if they are accompanied by an adult, but there is one restriction. They may not be left alone if there is only one adult who wants to tan.
Pam Goodroad said the kids play area is available if there are kids in the store who get a little antsy while the family eats.
Prices for tans in the lay-down beds start at $4.75 and packages are available for $21 to $70.
The standing booth is priced slightly higher, starting at $5.25 for one tan with package prices that range from $23 to $75.
Sunless tanning is $25 for one, $50 for three and $75 for five.
For information, call (651) 277-BEAN or 277-2326.

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