It is not every day that university students can place artwork in nationally recognized coffee houses.
Recently awarded America’s Best Coffee House, Palace Coffee Company, a local handcrafted beverage shop, was named a finalist at Coffee Fest’s National Championship.
Palace is a space of creativity and art that is filled with vibrant music, people and aromas, specializing in crafting artistry.
“We are really proud of our coffee,” Kevin Friemel, General Manager of Palace On The Square, said.  “I think that we do a good job at making a good cup of coffee and in order to really enjoy those things, you need to enjoy them in a good environment.”
Fostering peoples’ ideas, art, music and talents, according to Friemel, creates this environment at Palace.
“We want to be a supporter of the arts because the arts bring beauty into the shop that we can’t do just through coffee,” Friemel said. “We reach out to the artists, helping them give place to exhibit their work, to share their music, art, acting and comedy.”
When you walk into Palace, you are met with a spectrum of personalities and cultures from the customers and employees. It is common to come across artists, musicians and locals that casually drink coffee and take in the atmosphere. Taylor Gresham, a sophomore biology major and barista at Palace, is one person you will meet. She has previously exhibited her artwork at the coffee house.
“I had one painting here for a really long time,” Gresham said. “It was a big colorful octopus. Someone bought it who is one of the regulars and it’s really cool because now it’s in her son’s room. Somebody came in and bought it, which means so much. It feels really good when people dig what you paint.”
Gresham advises other artists to not be afraid and ask to hang artwork at Palace.
“People won’t seek you unless you are already known,” Gresham said. “If you feel confident and you want to get your art seen, you should talk to Patrick or Kevin because it is super easy.”
Describing her work, Gresham states that her art is colorful, strange, receives response from people at Palace.
“It’s rewarding to paint things and make people happy and feel good,” Gresham said. “Being an artist is about putting your work out there for critique and hoping it only gets better.”
Local artwork, like hers, adds to the lively organic atmosphere that cultivates inspiration.
“The artwork is excellent,” Nick Allen, sophomore sociology major and Palace regular, said. “They cycle through a lot and most of it has been good.”
Allen is a local musician who visits Palace almost on a daily basis and has performed multiple times at the coffee house.
“A lot of the artists frequent Palace often, Allen said. “That’s one of the things that I like about the art. You see the people who have done the artwork here and around town.”
According to Allen, Palace is a gem and makes up Canyon’s culture. Palace Coffee Company supports the arts and brings locals together in a creative environment through a cup of coffee.
“Art gives our customers and greater-coffee family something else to talk about,” Friemel said.