A Riverton woman’s love for baking and community has turned into the town’s newest gathering place.
Tiffany Monkman and her partner, Quentin, recently opened Cozy Nook Café at 70 Main St., Unit 2, in Riverton, creating a welcoming space inspired by homemade baking, community connection and family traditions
Tiffany Monkman and her partner, Quentin, are the proud owners and founders of Cozy Nook Café, now open at 70 Main St., Unit 2, in Riverton.
Born and raised in Riverton, Monkman said the small town has always been home. Knowing the community needed a place where people could connect, relax and visit with others, the vision for Cozy Nook Café came to life.
“You always want a place to go home to, and I strived to recreate that environment here,” she said.
Inspired by her grandmother — known to many as the Riverton cinnamon bun lady — who raised her, baking has always been one of Monkman’s passions. Her grandmother baked fresh bread daily, and Monkman said the love of baking was naturally instilled in her from a young age.
After leaving her job as an esthetician, she began making her own bread and fresh baked goods for friends and family a few years ago. From there, her passion for sharing her products with others continued to grow.
She is now known for her sourdough loaves, created from a recipe she has perfected over the years. She will also be selling a variety of drinks and baked goods, including her grandmother’s famous cinnamon buns.
“I feel like cinnamon buns are a memory from everybody’s grandma,” she added. “It’s a nostalgic treat that not many people get to have, and I am glad I am able to serve these new memories.”
Additionally, the menu includes lunch items such as sandwiches made on her sourdough bread, soup and salad — all prepared in-house.
She and her husband have spent the last six months renovating the café, which was previously a hair salon. They made a variety of changes, including updating the flooring, walls and lighting, while also adding a commercial kitchen. Monkman said it has not been an easy road, mainly because of the long days and nights, but it has been “very well worth it” so far.
“Just seeing the community come together when help is needed is what makes us want to move forward,” she said. “That’s the charm of operating in a small town.”
Over the last couple of months, the couple hosted weekly one-day pop-ups to sell bread and test out menu items. As of May 6, the café officially opened softly and is now welcoming customers from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Monkman said the support she has received so far has been overwhelming.
“It’s been addicting meeting the community, hearing what they love, and talking to them like we’ve always known each other,” she said. “They come and sit like it is my house. They are showing me this isn’t work — it’s a passion.”
The café has been decorated to create a cozy, nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of the 1980s. Many of the photos displayed are from her grandmother’s home, serving as a subtle nod to her style and influence.
“I just want to have this homely feeling where everybody wants to be,” Monkman said. “I want them to go to the Cozy Nook because it feels like home.”
She added the support so far has meant the world to her, and she is proud to support the town in return, noting that small businesses play an important role in helping communities like Riverton thrive by creating welcoming spaces for people to gather.
Even the café’s two baristas, Carlene and Ashlee, have been welcomed with open arms, adding to the experience.
An official grand opening is being planned for a later date, with more details to be announced on the café’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
For more information, including daily soup, salad and sandwich specials, follow the café on social media.
