L'ANSE -- As part of the TV 6’s Be the Change initiative, we are featuring emerging leaders in local communities, who are doing their part in the community.

Owners Bob Dudo and Nicole Collins saw the need for a coffee shop in their area and decided open Java By the Bay.

Located in L'Anse, the shop has only been around for nine months and they're already making their mark on the community by making Java By the Bay an enjoyable meeting place for residents.

Dudo and Collins were born and raised in L’Anse and even though they knew it would be somewhat of a risk to open up a shop, they felt it’s what the community needed.

“Everybody gathers here it feels like. There's always a gathering here and it's either book club or knitting club or church gatherings,” said Collins.

"We try to provide a good comfortable safe place for people to meet and relax,” said Dudo.

Dudo and Collins says they try to keep their products as local as possible and their coffee is organic and fair trade. It’s also roasted in Calumet. 

But coffee isn’t their only specialty the shop also offers baked goods, sandwiches and other healthy food choices.

They also say they want to offer healthier food choices and they recently invited a local farmer from Ontonagon for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share.

Inside the shop there’s a rather cozy back room where people can sit and enjoy the company of others.

They’ve also participated in Toys for Tots and other fundraising events to help the community.

Java By the Bay also has two very hard workers Annie and Allison and Dudo and Collins say they are a tremendous help to the team.