The Perk Beverage Co. is located at 415 N. 14th St., and offers a variety of espresso drinks, real fruit smoothies, homemade bakeed goods, locally sourced loose leaf tea and a daily breakfast and lunch menu.

Owner Jennifer Green recalls that growing up, her parents had an insurance agency. When she graduated high school, Green’s mother opened a floral shop and she gained business experience helping with that, but knew it was a tough thing to run your own business.

Green enjoys art and had initially gone to college to become an art teacher. She transferred to a college closer to home which did not have art as a major, and so she became an elementary teacher.

Green moved to Ponca City years later, where she taught at Ponca City Public Schools for 15 years, teaching pre-school, kindergarten and 4th grade. She later got an art endorsement and taught art.

“I knew that I still had 25 years of work to do, but I still wanted to do something that had to do with people,” said Green. “I decided to leave teaching and wanted to find something the people desired. And one thing I heard over and over was that they wanted a coffee shop.”

The name for the business comes from the idea that a “perk” is something positive.

“A Perk is something that is almost always some positive. Coffee used to be perked back in the old days,” said Green. “Mainly it came down to the fact that a perk is always something that is positive, or something extra. Nobody doesn’t like a perk.”

Owing to her art background, Green made a conscious decision to include and feature works from artists within the community.

“It’s been a great joy to have…a wide, wide variety of ages of artists in here, and I know it takes a lot of courage for people to be able to do that,” said Green. “It has drawn different people in. They will come in and look at their friends’ and acquaintances’ art. It has given them a reason to come in and know that this place is for everybody.”

Every month, The Perk showcases a different artist, with Green always on the lookout for someone interested.

The Perk has also partnered with many other businesses in town and have had a role in Lady’s Night downtown. The Perk has donated for different events, often offering gift cards for raffle baskets, and has sent coffee to various fundraisers. They are also members of the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce.

Like many businesses during 2020, The Perk was hit by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and was forced to adjust. Before the pandemic, The Perk didn’t have an online order or delivery service, but one was set up to adapt to the changes brought on by COVID-19.

This also resulted in curbside pickup being made available.

The Perk’s online presence includes its website: theperkbeverageco.com, a Facebook page, and an Instagram. The Perk has also joined online food ordering platforms DoorDash and ChowNow.

“I’m very pleased with how it turned out so far…there was a lady that I worked with who said that: ‘you’re never in the land of done’,” said Green. “And I think that is true with a business, because things are always changing. It’s definitely developed a character.”