Columbus, Ohio (PRWEB) December 31, 2014 -- In 2014, Ohio coffee roaster Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea welcomed 12 new coffee houses in 8 states to its growing community of independent coffee shops, cafés and bakeries in 28 states.
“2014 was a great year for independent coffee houses!” said Founder and President Greg Ubert. “We were excited to see steady growth in the number of entrepreneurs interested in learning how to open their own independent coffee business.”
All of the business owners completed Crimson Cup’s 7 Steps to Success coffee franchise alternative program. Based on Ubert’s book, “Seven Steps to Success in the Specialty Coffee Industry,” the program teaches entrepreneurs everything they need to run a successful coffee house, from developing a business plan to choosing a location to hiring and managing staff. Comprehensive, hands-on training gets each coffee house off to a great start.
Crimson Cup helps each coffee house develop a full menu of hot and cold specialty coffee drinks, including handcrafted espressos, lattes, cappuccinos and mochas as well as frozen smoothies, hot chocolate and premium hot and iced teas. Many also offer third-wave coffee house selections such as hand-pour and cold-brew coffee.
And, unlike coffee franchises, Crimson Cup allows entrepreneurs to put their stamp on a business that reflects their individual tastes and the needs of their local community.
“As independent business owners, they are free to create coffee houses as unique as they are,” Ubert said. “They receive all the benefits of a coffee franchise – and more – but without any franchise fees, royalties or business restrictions.”
Crates Coffee House in Lake Orion, Michigan kicked off the year with its Jan. 18 opening at 1472 S. Lapeer Road. Owner Andrea Rank named her shop after a family heirloom – an old coffee crate that had been passed down through the generations.
“Working with Crimson Cup step by step made it easy for us,” she said. “It’s hard work being an owner, but we love it!”
At The Well Coffee House, which opened Jan. 21, volunteers serve handcrafted coffee for a cause to travelers through South Station train terminal in Boston, Massachusetts. It is an outgrowth of The Church @ the Well, a nondenominational Christian ministry founded by Pastor Kevin Scott, his wife Christy, Associate Pastor Matt Love and his wife Julie.
On May 1, Nina and John Bradley opened Bradley’s Gourmet Coffee & More at 363 N Hwy 27 in Whitley City, Kentucky. Nestled in the heart of the Daniel Boone National Forest, Bradley’s offers a comfortable seating area and a drive-thru for coffee lovers on the go.
Arbuckle Mountain Fried Pies and Coffee opened May 11 inside Jungle Jim’s grocery store at 4450 Eastgate South Drive in Cincinnati, Ohio. Owner Jerry joined with sons Mat Fry and Mike Fry to open a shop that serves Crimson Cup beverages to complement sweet and savory fried pies from Oklahoma City’s Arbuckle Mountain franchise.
Created by Joy and Brian Lee and Joy’s parents Jim and Charlotte Allgyer, The Coffee Station at Landis Valley opened May 30 at 2351 Oregon Pike near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Like many coffee-shop owners, Jim Allgyer is a serial entrepreneur. The Coffee Station sends used milk jugs and plastic cups to his other business, Casual Living Products Unlimited, which transforms post-consumer plastic waste into poly outdoor furniture.
On June 20, Bluegrass star Lorraine Jordan opened Lorraine’s Coffee House and Music on at 101 Timber Pointe Lane, in Garner, North Carolina. Lorraine’s offers an inviting space for neighbors to gather over awesome coffee and a varied musical menu ranging from bluegrass to jazz.
On June 25, Larry and Kay Byler opened Dawdy Haus Coffee at 634 Springs Road in Springs, Pennsylvania. Translated from Pennsylvania Dutch, Dawdy Haus means "Grandfather's House." Inspired by their grandparents, the Bylers have given their coffee house the feel of a comfy cottage.
The Kave Coffee Bar and Nine Muses Art Gallery opened July 25 at 584 W. Tuscarawas St. in Barberton, Ohio. The coffee bar and art gallery anchors the new arts and entertainment district in downtown Barberton under development by Neighborhood Development Services, a nonprofit community development corporation.
Ground Zero Coffee Shop held its grand opening Oct. 14 at 904 Chester Street, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Non-profit Christian youth ministry Ground Zero turned to Crimson Cup for help in transforming the concession stand of the 1950s-era Rivoli movie theater into a profitable coffee shop staffed entirely by volunteers.
On Oct. 21, owner Wendy Bradley and her team served 385 drinks during the grand opening of Love-a-Latte Coffee and Tea House, 1210 12th Street, Eldora, Iowa. Before opening Love-A-Latte, Wendy had spent many years as a human resource professional for several farming companies.
J’s Place on Main opened Oct. 28 to serve Crimson Cup beverages, breakfast and lunch from a historic building at 101 S. Main Street in downtown Nicholasville, Kentucky. Owner Gwen Riley, a small business owner who also operates GreenBox Heating & Air, started J’s Place to reach out to those who need a hand up after hard times.
Stone House Sweets opened Nov. 18 at 322 Union Blvd., Suite B, in Englewood, Ohio. Owner Beth Duncan opened the retail coffee house and bakery after her home-based bakery business outgrew her kitchen.
“Congratulations to the Crimson Cup Class of 2014,” Ubert said. “We’re looking forward to working with them and other members of our community to make 2015 the best year ever.”
About Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea
Since 1991,Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea has hand-roasted specialty coffee in Columbus, Ohio and taught independent business owners how to be successful through its coffee shop franchise alternative program. Sustainably sourced Crimson Cup coffee is available through a network of more than 350 independent coffee houses, grocers, college and universities, restaurants and food service operations across 28 states, as well as the company’s own Crimson Cup Coffee House in the Columbus suburb of Clintonville. For more information, visit crimsoncup.com.
Cheryl Claypoole, Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea, http://www.crimsoncup.com, +1 (614) 361-5023, [email protected]
SOURCE Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea
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