BISMARCK, ND ( KXNET ) — Over the past 20 years, Boneshaker Coffee Co. has been a staple for Bismarck coffee lovers, but they’ll be undergoing some changes soon.

“I tell everybody, we’re kind of like the Cheers of Bismarck,” laughed Boneshaker’s Charlyne Kemmesat. “Everybody knows your name.”

It’s become a place where friendships have blossomed over a cup of coffee.

“We’ve just grown to be a place where people come just to be family,” shared Kemmesat. “They come here for friendship, for the coffee obviously, they come here for my staff, but most of it has just been a long journey of friendships.”

Boneshaker has been through a variety of changes since they opened in 2003.

“We were at the Dakota Theatre for a year and half, then we were across from the Dakota Eye Institute over there, we were there for a year and a half and then we built this building in 2006 and we’ve been there since then,” related Kemmesat.

Now, Boneshaker is undergoing a different kind of change as owner Kemmesat hands over the reins.

“It’s time,” stated Kemmesat. “I’ve done it for 21 years, and now it’s just time to go on and do other things in life.”

She’s handing it over to Andrew Hershey, the creator of the local ice cream truck, FOMO 10/40 creamery. Though it’ll see new ownership, Hershey says the coffee shop will undergo minimal changes.

“There’s a connection and a developed group of people that love Boneshaker for how it is,” shared Hershey. “We don’t want to change that, we think it’s great how it works and runs.”

Hershey believes the only big change, will be what’s on the menu.

“Drive through ice cream from a local business is very unique for Bismarck, and we would love to serve ice cream through a drive through,” explained Hershey.

Hershey has spent the past six years selling his ice cream out of the Boneshaker parking lot on summer nights, and now, the sweet treat will be available — right alongside your favorite cup of joe.

“His ice cream’s amazing, and to pair that up with coffee — you can make awesome coffee drinks with ice cream,” shared Kemmesat.

Kemmesat promises the friendly atmosphere will stay the same, too.

“He has the heart of what I have the heart for,” shared Kemmesat.

“If Andrew wasn’t taking this over, I’d be a lot more emotional, but knowing that the legacy lives on, I’m good, I’m really good with that.”

You’ll still find Kemmesat in her happy place– taking coffee orders and getting to know customers as she transitions into her new role as general manager.

Right now, you can stop by from 7 am to 7 pm, but as they train more workers, Boneshaker is hoping to be open until 10 pm starting May 6.

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