Photos: All photos are credit of the DW Instagram Page
I was always surprised when I’d tell people about the Drowsy Whaler. Perhaps a better statement is that they were surprised to learn that next to the seawall there was a mobile coffee cart, or truck. I was never sure what to call it, but I’d tell people about this amazing view at the seawall. Before shock swept over their faces at the mention of a coffee truck, sometimes, they’d also inquire, “Where is the seawall?”
The conversation started, yes, because of the coffee, and anyone who knows me knows that I love coffee. And I love food. The two, together, done well, is like a little slice of heaven.
I’d open the conversation with “There are these biscuits that are next level!”, then I’d pause, and follow with, “They have really good coffee, too.”
The biscuits are what drew me in, and the coffee (and all of the other savory goodies) are what kept me coming back.
In an interview with owners Laura and Zach Miko (also husband and wife), they shared with the Stratford Crier exactly where their idea came from, and why community matters to them. Zach grew up in Stratford, and after time away, found his way back to his hometown. He said it wasn’t until he and Laura opened the Drowsy Whaler in 2024 that he really felt like a member of the community. Before that, Stratford was just a place he lived. Stratford is now where he wants to be as a business owner, helping to shape the place he chose to also build his family.
Laura, born and raised in Georgia, had always dreamed of owning her own little spot where she would bake and tend to her customers. The two met when they both worked in a bar in New York City, and now, with a daughter and another child on the way, the two love working together. Opening the coffee truck fulfills Laura’s dream, and their desire to create something they didn’t need to rely on others for.
Like their name, which they came up with together.
Zach says, “We wanted to represent Connecticut. Connecticut used to be a big whaling state, and our state animal is still the sperm whale. With our Connecticut team being the Hartford Whalers, we thought it was kind of perfect. We just threw out a couple adjectives until something stuck – and a drowsy whaler needs a cup of coffee before they head out.”
From opening their brick and mortar on Short Beach on Saturday, August 23rd, through this past Thursday they’ve sold 1,200 biscuits. Laura says, “Our buttermilk biscuit breakfast sandwich, our biscuits and gravy, and just plain buttermilk biscuits – people love them!” She’s so right! Even my daughter, who is a very picky eater, enjoys Laura’s fresh and savory buttermilk biscuits. Have you been to the D.W. yet? No? Well, check them out. You can learn more about their hours, story, and fun lattes on their Instagram.
Zach and Laura, like all new parents (because, yes, starting a business is like giving birth), want to be a beacon in the community, and a space for the community. Recently, their summer weekly special, the Cease and Desist Latte, went viral on TikTok this past August, creating wait times at the seawall longer than 45 minutes.
What I’ve learned from Zach and Laura over the past year, is that they truly love the town they call home. They connected with the owner of our local bookstore (me!), and asked if we could partner to start a book club. We are a few book club picks in, and when they catch their breath from their grand opening high, we will relaunch our beloved Drowsy Whaler and Obodo Serendipity Books Book Club, with coffee and biscuits to boot!
And, if you want to take a trip to the seawall, they are back at the truck too, in addition to their spot near Short Beach. You’ll never have to be without the biscuits for too long!
