Legacy of Fine Coffee Continues Under New Management

The Loaded Toad has a new owner, but boasts the same legacy of delicious culinary confections and fine coffee.

Glasgow native Candy Lagerquist has purchased the long time business from Alicia Frueh, officially taking the mantle on Sept. 10. Alicia and her late husband, Robert "Jimmy" Frueh, themselves became the new owners of the coffee shop on Aug. 25, 2019. They, in turn, purchased the shop from Jimmy's sister, Ann Kulczyk, who opened the coffee shop on July 14, 2014.

Jimmy died from complications from COVID-19 on Nov. 26, 2020.

Jimmy had helped Ann launch the Loaded Toad, and it was there he met Alicia. They were married in 2019.

Candy's daughters, Kylie and Shanice, had already been working at The Loaded Toad for Alicia, supporting her after Jimmy died, and did not want to see it close after being sold by Alicia.

"Shanice and Kylie worked here for Alicia after Jim passed," Candy recently told The Courier. "Jimmy and Ann had pushed the girls to put coffee in our concessions trailer, so when Jimmy passed, the girls stepped up and helped Alicia. Alicia was wanting to sell it, and the girls did not want to see it close. We chose to keep Jimmy's dream alive."

"It was important for me because Alicia deserved someone good to take over her coffee shop," Kylie added. "She was amazing with the coffee shop, and Jimmy was amazing with the coffee shop. Ever since Ann, I have just wanted to keep the coffee shop amazing. It is amazing knowing Jimmy's dream gets to continue."

Kulczyk has said she began tinkering with the idea of opening a coffee shop while serving with the military in Iraq in the early 2000s, according to Courier archives. While stationed in country, Kulczyk and her husband would meet up in a portable coffee shop set up on base by members of the Italian military.

"In the shop there was a sense of camaraderie," Kulczyk told The Courier previously. "You could see normal life. Pictures of life came out, soldiers were talking about their family back home. Even though there was war going on, normal life was happening inside of that shop."

After returning to civilian life, Kulczyk said she wanted the "sense of community" she had discovered in war torn Iraq to continue.

"I wanted a place that felt like home, that served homemade pastries. A place where you could grab your best girlfriend and catch up."

Kulczyk and her husband purchased an old espresso machine from a restaurant supply store, and with the help of Sean Heavey and Toni LaGree, was able to open the Loaded Toad. The very name of the shop was also inspired by Kulczyk's time in the military. After graduating from Glasgow High School, Kulczyk joined the Air Force. During the late '80s and early '90s, she was responsible for loading ordnance onto the A-10 Thunderbolt II, a close air support jet commonly referred to as the "Warthog." Since she and her compatriots worked nights, they often "loaded up" on coffee, and the nickname the "Loaded Toads" was established.

Candy said just about everything, except the ownership, is the same at the coffee house.

"We kept the name the same, the phone number, everything. We have the fresh baked pastries, the lemon cookies which everyone loves, the muffins. We have added fresh baked caramel rolls and maple sticks every morning, as long as I am here, because I don't expect the girls to have to do it."

The Loaded Toad also has partnered with the Apple Trolley to offer breakfast burritos in the morning.

"That is going amazing," Candy said. "A lot of people like her burritos, so we asked her if we could put them in, and it has been great."

The coffee beans also are derived from the same company, Kafe Utza, of Miles City, and are free trade and single origin.

"They roast them right there and send them out to us," Candy said.

Candy and her daughters see plenty of familiar faces each morning, and are by now on a first name basis with most.

"It is amazing and it is really cool because we are the first face they see in the morning," Candy said. "It is extremely important for us to make their day. It is important for us to have a smile on our face, and to be the positive side of their morning to start the day off right."

Even with grumps, coffee "mellows 'em," Candy added with a big smile.

Kylie said her favorite part about being a barista is definitely the customers.

"Seeing the same familiar faces, learning their drinks. My customers are where its at. I love my customers.

And even though the Lagerquists are inundated with coffee, they say they are not sick of it. Yet. Perhaps that is because they can't seem to find the time to drink their own magical brew, Candy said.

"I have lost weight here. There is no time for me to have my own cup of coffee because there are always people here. When you are busy and you make one, you never get to drink it because customers are in here, which is awesome."

Kylie said she is pleased the local coffee shop is not part of a corporate chain.

"Everything gets to stay the same from Alicia, and everyone likes our coffee. We keep it consistent, so knowing people are getting good coffee is a good feeling."

The Loaded Toad is located at 527 2nd Ave S., in Glasgow. They are open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

The coffee shop now boasts a printer for patrons to use, and is available for special events after hours, Candy said.

"It is turning into a cyber cafe."

And, coming soon, will be the unveiling of the Lagerquist's famous mini-donuts, which they once sold at their concession stand, Candy said.

For more information, call The Loaded Toad at 406-228-4610.