About Us

Ron and Michelle Lovelien are the husband-and-wife team behind The Outpost. Married since 1993, they’ve built a life around working side by side, sharing good coffee, and making people feel welcome.

Their coffee story began in 2007, when they opened The Living Room Coffee House in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. During their first five years in business, they grew to four locations in the Eau Claire area and began roasting their own coffee.

In 2019, their dream of opening a gift shop became The Outpost, nestled in Wisconsin’s Northwoods. After 15 years of running The Living Room, they sold the business in 2022 and turned their attention to life and work up north.

Today, they roast coffee and run their gift shop with the same care, craftsmanship, and neighborly spirit that started it all. Stop by and you’ll also meet Yukon, their shop dog and four-legged member of the welcoming committee.

Outside the shop, Ron and Michelle call a little farmhouse near Spooner home, sharing it with Yukon, three indoor cats, two horses, and two outdoor cats who came with the farm. They’re grateful for the Northwoods life they’ve built and the supportive community that has become such an important part of it.

Stop by The Outpost, say hello, and enjoy a little Northwoods comfort. We’d love to welcome you.