Marshfield coffee shop changes ownership

A 6-year-old coffee shop in Marshfield has undergone an ownership change.

Morgan Cooley is the new owner of Prickly Cactus Coffee after having purchased the business from Jessica Rezak. Cooley, a Marshfield resident, declined to disclose terms of the deal, which closed Aug. 1. The shop is at 1148 Spur Drive.

Now a first-time business owner, Cooley said she began working part-time for the shop in February and counts herself as a longtime fan of Prickly Cactus. The shop started in 2019 and moved locations within Centerview Plaza in 2021, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting. 

“When she opened up in our first location, I used to go almost every day,” Cooley said, adding she previously worked remotely for T-Mobile US Inc. (Nasdaq: TMUS) as part of its Springfield call center staff.

The ownership transition deal quickly came together, Cooley said, as Rezak first mentioned her desire to sell the business in July.

“She offered it to me, and I was like, ‘You know what, let me talk to my family and we’ll see,’” Cooley said. “And here we are. It’s not something I had planned on doing, but it is exciting. It’s just a lot to take in right now. I’m trying to do my best to learn everything she’s done.”

Cooley said she’s operating under the existing lease with landlord Robert Headley for undisclosed terms.

Aside from its drink menu, which includes hot and iced coffee, mochas, lattes, frappes, smoothies and lemonade, Prickly Cactus also sells pastries and breakfast items. Cooley said the shop sources its food, which includes breakfast sandwiches, cinnamon rolls and scones, from Lisa Hardy, who owns Marshfield bakery Lisa’s Homemade Eats and Treats.

There’s a bit of role reversal going on at the five-employee shop, as Cooley said Rezak is now the part-time worker.

“She’s been great as a business mentor and just passing everything off,” Cooley said of Rezak. “And this is her baby, of course, so she wants to see it succeed no matter whose hands it’s in. So, it’s been nice to ask her questions and just talk to her about some of my ideas and what’s worked in the past or maybe what’s not worked.”