Located steps away from Fox River in downtown Aurora, Illinois, sits a charming tea and gift shop. Appropriately named The Cornucopia Shop, this quaint tea boutique houses an abundant supply of bagged and loose-leaf teas, along with a vast collection of fine teaware and accessories. Since we began working with them in early February of 2023, we’ve witnessed their online presence grow from a small local name into the #1 result on Google for tea stores in their community.

Behind their rise online is a deeper story of loss, resilience, and love. After the unexpected passing of his wife Katie, who co-founded The Cornucopia Shop with him in 2019, owner Dave Lasota made a commitment to carry forward the vision they built together.

In the years since, Dave has continued to work tirelessly to honor Katie’s memory by growing the business of her dreams. In recognition of Dave’s dedication to honoring Katie’s legacy and the growth he’s achieved through his OPTIMA™ program, we are proud to name The Cornucopia Shop our 2025 Customer of the Year!

Building Their Dream

Long before The Cornucopia Shop opened its doors in 2019, Katie had already built a connection to the tea industry through her former business, Cornucopia Epicure in Waynesville, Missouri. After relocating to Illinois and later meeting Dave, the two fell in love and eventually decided to bring back the Cornucopia name together in Aurora.

While building the business, both Dave and Katie also worked full-time jobs outside of the shop. Their hard work eventually led to the opening of their downtown Aurora storefront, but as their business expanded, they realized they needed additional support to continue to grow their presence in the community.

That search ultimately led to AMP and the OPTIMA™ program in early 2023. Together, we began a full overhaul of their online visibility by updating their information across major search platforms, showcasing their business through new imagery, and creating posts to help customers learn more about their store.

Then, just days before Christmas in December 2023, tragedy struck with Katie’s unexpected passing.

Carrying the Vision Forward

In the months that followed, Dave remained determined to continue building the shop Katie loved so deeply. He reconnected with his Account Management team in the new year and began to work collaboratively to grow the Cornucopia Shop’s online presence even more.

“Dave takes what we say and applies it,” shared Account Manager Morgan Goslin. “There’s a reason he’s gone from seven reviews to a hundred and seventy. He mails out the recommendation cards. If he’s on the phone with a customer, he texts the Review Invitation Link out after. Using all of the tools we give our business owners, when they apply them, great things happen.”

And great things did happen. In 2025, The Cornucopia Shop generated more than 75,000 Google views, driving over 1,400 website visits. They became the top Google result for tea stores in Aurora and generated 79 reviews that year alone.

But beyond their online growth, the shop’s success represented something far more meaningful: the continuation of a dream Dave and Katie built together and a lasting legacy to honor Katie’s memory.

Honoring Katie’s Legacy

From the beginning, Dave and Katie had one clear goal: to grow their business so they could continue to serve their community. For the husband-and-wife team, the shop was more than a business venture, but their creative outlet, and an opportunity to bring a smile to their customers’ faces.

After Katie’s passing, that goal remained unwavering. Dave continued pouring into his community and bringing joy to his customers in her honor.

Some of the ways Dave brings that joy to life is through events at the Cornucopia Shop, including their beloved Artist’s Alley, where he invites local artists to display their work, and their Paint N’ Sip tea parties that bring their customers together.

Dave also extends that same care through his service, often going above and beyond for his customers. One such example involved a women visiting from Virginia for a children’s tea party in Champaign, Illinois. She found a tea party book on The Cornucopia’s website that she needed for the event, but it wasn’t going to arrive in time. Dave stepped in to help and made sure the book arrived quickly for the party. “There’s another smile” Dave recalls, a sentiment that reflects the heart of the Cornucopia Shop.

As AMP’s 2025 Customer of the Year, Dave and The Cornucopia Shop stand as a reminder of what truly matters. Hearing Dave’s story and seeing the growth he’s achieved reinforces the purpose behind our mission to help local businesses achieve their greatest aspirations. We’re honored to crown The Cornucopia Shop our 2025 Customer of the Year, and to see the shop continue to grow and achieve the success that Katie dreamed of.