Loose Wheel Coffee: A Retro Ride Through Nostalgia and Lattes
NEWS
Lex (left) and Marnie Proudfit pose from inside their coffee trailer; Loose Wheel coffee trailer at the Tru-Tone location; Loose Wheel specialty Lavender Blue latte. Deann Armes
For Marny and Lex Proudfit, the road back home to Ogden was paved with coffee bean dreams and a vintage Toyota. Loose Wheel Coffee, Ogden’s newest mobile caffeine spot, is more than just a coffee trailer — it’s a charmingly (and deliciously) curated tribute to family history.
The idea for the business sparked in January 2025 while the two were traveling. After living across the country, they were inspired by a small, intimate trailer in Denver.
"It's such a vibe and I was like, this is what I want, a small, intimate community based business," Marny said.
Marny and Lex, who met in Logan during their college years, found their perfect vessel on Facebook Marketplace in April 2025: a 1984 Toyota Sunrader with a 22R engine and only 80,000 miles. Purchased for just $2,800, the vintage RV required a full DIY build-out.
"Well, we just can't ever do anything unless it's, like, really a little crazy and nuts," Marny joked regarding their choice of a vintage trailer over a modern truck.
The name "Loose Wheel" is a nod to Marny’s grandmother, Lucille Chamberlain, who often jokingly referred to herself as a "loose wheel." Today, Lucille serves as the inspiration for the business’s mascot, "Lucy," a coffee-sipping wheel designed by friend Alex Gettes. The branding is deeply nostalgic; the color scheme feels like a warm blanket, and if you’re a 70s or 80s kid, you’ll likely recognize the yellow and green stripes from wood-framed camping chairs of that era.
Marny, a local musician in the duo Cop Kid and a former barista, finally realized a long-held dream when they opened on January 31.
"I was a barista, you know, on and off for years, and I always joked and said that if I could just be a barista, then that's what I would do for my life. So, here we are," she said.
The menu features beans from Marny’s favorite Salt Lake City roaster Blue Copper and iconic donuts from Ogden’s own Topper’s Bakery. Signature drinks include the "Bit O’ Honey," an Americano-based tribute to Lucille’s favorite candy; "Lavender Blue," inspired by the classic song; and "Oh! Banana," a latte with bits of pecans inspired by a drink the couple discovered in Costa Rica.
Currently stationed at Tru-Tone, a retro light bulb company in Ogden, Loose Wheel Coffee has quickly become a community hub. With retro yard chairs and umbrellas, the Marny and Lex Proudfit have created an outdoor patio space that invites neighbors to stay, hang out, and enjoy a little bit of the past in every cup.