The owners of Cafe 3zero7 have decided to sell their popular cafe in downtown Powell, but they’re after more than just getting a good price for the two-year business they’ve created.

They want to help not only the new owner of the cafe, but anyone interested in purchasing a business.

On April 9 from 4:30-7 p.m. the cafe owners are hosting an event put on by the Wyoming Small Business Development Center on business succession and the resources both for those looking to sell and looking to buy. The talk is also being sponsored by First Bank of Wyoming and real estate agent Pia Trotter of Richard Realty, the listing agent for Cafe 3zero7.

To clarify before anyone gets too upset, as some rumors have stated, owners Jason and Bronwyn Marais said they’re not getting out of the meat pie business. In fact, offering to continue supplying pies to the cafe is one of a number of ways they want to help the new owner.

They very much want the business they’ve created to stick around, now that it’s become something of a downtown staple.

The couple began the business in March 2021, taking over a location with a history as a cafe/coffee shop, with the intent of creating a New Zealand-style cafe, including lots of to-go food and meat pies.

Jason and Bronwyn both said one key to their quick success was in leaning on Devan Costa-Cargill at the Wyoming Small Business Development Center, whose free services helped them connect with local vendors and know how to navigate starting and growing a business in Wyoming.

Bronwyn recalled that before Jason could join her in Powell she was already diving in to put the business together and Costa Cargill was there to help her with applying for a business license and other essentials.

“There are resources that are here that can help [potential business owners],” Jason said. “So every time we see somebody like that, we’re like ‘oh, you should talk to her.’ Because she’s great. She’s been great for us.”

He said that after they first opened they would meet with her monthly.

Their business quickly took off. Jason said it’s now a spot where all kinds of people stop by regularly, from longtime residents to groups of teenagers.

And as people got excited about the cafe, they started to gather many regulars — just look at the reserved tables at certain times — and then people asked for more and the owners responded. They added fish fry Friday nights, Diwali meals and crepes.

“We just want to do things that locals like,” Jason said.

Their success and willingness to evolve led to the cafe morphing from the simple New Zealand style cafe they wanted to do into a beloved local cafe and restaurant. In New Zealand people walk in and take a seat, he said. “That was the exact model that we tried to do. And we always thought we’d do pies and coffee. And then eventually we’d sell pies online and frozen. And then the cafe took off and the pie is just pushed to the bottom of the pile,” Jason said.

Finally, last fall they decided pies needed to be a priority again.

“The pies are still what we want to do,” he said. “So we had to make a decision that says ‘well, we can’t do both.’ And that’s how we came to the conclusion to sell.”

However, what they’re selling — a business without real estate, is not commonly seen in the area, Trotter said, noting there is also a cycle shop in Cody in the same situation, but not much else at the moment.

So, she said, the determination for what the business is worth comes down to what it can produce financially, and how soon a prospective buyer could be making more than what the business had cost to purchase.

Jason said they could’ve probably listed the business for more than they did, but the couple wants to ensure whoever takes over the business can keep it going. They’re so committed to that that they’re even offering the new buyer the opportunity to have them as “executive consultants” to answer questions and ensure the business succession goes smoothly.

“Our goal is that, like our philosophy with the cafe, is to give everybody a good value,” Jason said. “I’m 99% sure we can ask more and be justified, but it’s a good value for us, and It’s a good value for whoever buys it, so it’s not like the only thing that they’re stressed about is all the bills that come with it and they should be able to you know, enjoy doing it as well.”

Bronwyn said with them stepping back they’ll be able to move back to New Zealand at some point if they decided to go that route, but want the cafe to survive.

“We don’t want to come back and the cafe is gone,” she said.