A sign recently went up in our Lincoln Hills Shopping Center to announce that Mina’s Coffee Shop was opening in the old Starbucks’ location.

It was the talk of the town or at least the talk of the Lincoln Hills community.

Filling the empty store with a new business filled the void left by the exit of Starbucks.

It was also exciting to learn that a local Lincoln family had chosen to invest their time, money and, most of all, energy back into our community. They joined the list of other locally run businesses that make Lincoln a special place to shop.

When I drove into the shopping center at the intersection of Sun City and Del Web boulevards, I immediately noticed the increased number of cars in the parking lot.

That was a good sign for Mina’s and beneficial for the other businesses in the center. The emptiness created by the loss of an anchor store had been replaced with the excitement of Mina’s!

I walked into the store, ordered an iced latte and noticed the energized feeling of a new beginning.

The just-hung artwork was painted by residents and the pastries were also locally baked. But most of all, the shop was filled with residents sipping their coffee, munching on sweets and spending time with friends.

Mina and her family moved to Lincoln more than 10 years ago and have firmly become a part of our community.

She is not new to owning a business here in Lincoln as she operates a hair salon on the other side of town.

Her husband works for the city of Lincoln and her three children, two sons and a daughter; are attending or have graduated from the Lincoln schools.

The store staff is a family affair and you will meet both of her sons and her nephews when you stop by for some treats. Be on the lookout for the young lady with a hostess button. She is Mina’s youngest child.

Her oldest son, Cameron, works in the store but will soon leave to join the Marines.

Cameron previously worked at this location when it was a Starbucks and knew how much the community missed their hangout. It was he who put a “bee in his mother’s bonnet” and convinced her to look into opening a coffee shop.

Mina did more than “look into” this idea. She moved forward and did it! With 100-percent certainty, she made it happen and is 100-percent certain that Mina’s will be a success.

As I mentioned, Mina owns a hair salon and loyal clients of a hairstylist are as much friends as they are clients.

A friend/client, who lives in Lincoln Hills, was very excited to hear about the new coffee shop and asked her what the opening date would be.

On that day, Mina and her family arrived at the shop at 5:30 a.m., wondering if anyone would show up. At around 7 a.m., the cars and golf carts began to arrive.

Her first morning was indeed a very successful event. Her hair client had sent 600 e-mails to Lincoln Hills residents, who came out in droves to support this new business.

That is a friend with a heart.

When I choose a focus for this column, I look for a topic that depicts the “Heart of Lincoln” and, this week, I think I hit the jackpot.

Mina wants and needs to sell coffee but she also wants to focus on what I call the heart of a business and that is her customers.

The business is dog friendly (close to my heart) and open to groups spending an evening eating, drinking and socializing.

Ideas, such as a karaoke night, are in the works and Mina is available to discuss other events that will bring the community together.

Whether you grab a quick cup of coffee or have the time to sit and talk, you will notice the difference. Once again, the shopping center is alive!

Stop by and say hello to Mina and her family. Perhaps I will see you there on your next visit!

Eileen Marks is a Lincoln resident.