Regina Weldert: a woman of many talents or a Jacqueline of all trades

DAYTON-Regina Weldert, of Dayton, has been many things in her life, including a goat farmer, sheepherder, and factory worker. She went back to school later in life and became a fish biologist. I've known her as a coffee roaster and coffee shop owner. To her fans, she is the finest roaster in Southeast Washington. For four years, she has owned and operated her coffee shop, Rey's Roast, on Main Street in Dayton. The COVID-19 pandemic has now altered her course, but it hasn't stopped her from doing what she still loves: roasting Arabica beans. I had the chance to catch up with her recently and listen to more of her story.

"I've been working at one vocation or another since I was 16 years old. In a few weeks, I'll be 70," said Weldert.

Her varied experience gives her unique wisdom about life, which she's always willing to share.

Regina began roasting coffee at Blue Mountain Station in Dayton in 2013, soon after the Port of Columbia facility opened. She was one of the first tenants at the facility, and soon the little roastery began to attract visitors looking for a chat and a cup.

Weldert opened Rey's Roast espresso shop at 242 E. Main Street in downtown Dayton in 2016. Rey's Roast was curated to feel like your living room, complete with sofas, comfy chairs, floor lamps, and shelves full of books and magazines. She created a gallery in her shop for local artists, photographers, as well as display space for local crafters selling jewelry, handbags and hats.

The true core of the business was always about creating space for people: a safe place to gather and connect, where everyone was welcome. More than one local group made weekly rituals of meeting around the table, sharing conversation, and mutual care.

Unfortunately, physical distancing wasn't feasible in the cozy shop and had to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After the mandated closure, Weldert made the difficult decision to close Rey's Roast coffee shop permanently. Though the COVID-19 pandemic spurred her decision, she had been mulling it over for some time.

"The decision to close was hard," she says. "But I was getting tired."

Operating the shop was a chance to share the art of coffee roasting and the taste of a well-brewed cup of coffee with her community and friends. Weldert didn't need to go to school to learn how to roast. She started the way a lot of famous rock and roll bands did: experimenting in her garage. Before long, she had perfected her technique.

Since then, she has built a strong relationship with her "specialty coffee" dealer in Los Angeles, who sources beans from South America and other places on fair trade practices. She does not plan to stop roasting coffee beans anytime soon.

Rey's Roast has customers in Michigan, North Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Hawaii, and Alaska and will continue to supply beans to Ten Ton Coffee in Waitsburg and Locally Nourished Cafe in Dayton. Customers can buy fresh roast by the pound at the Blue Mountain Station's Co-op market or send an email to reysroast@live.com. Soon, her beans will be for sale at Elk Drug.

Like many small business owners, Weldert describes her business as a labor of love. And has a friendly reminder to offer up: "You want business in your town? You need to support them!"

With the shop closed, Weldert has found time to pursue her latest interest: A YouTube channel called Conversation with Regina. She started earlier this year, and so far, you can see her conversational videos about fear, happiness, and a segment called "Coffee with Diana." Her videos start with a welcoming, "Hi! I'm Regina, and you are YOU!"

"You know, I'm, like, the love and compassion gal," she said, on her upload about "Happiness," as she goes on to talk about giving and receiving respect. It's true; she is. On her chats, she aims to be authentic and honest and isn't interested in using her channel as a platform for angry critique or blaming.

"You can get further with honey than you can with vinegar," she said.

And did I mention that Weldert is also a writer? Find a video of her reading an original short story titled Holding the Darkness at Bay on her YouTube channel. The story has a challenging subject that ends with a beautiful truth.

Meanwhile, when not roasting, YouTubing, or writing, Regina loves to golf.

"The golf course is one of the great things we have in Dayton!" she said. I didn't ask her handicap.