It’s hard not to love a success story, especially when it focuses on one of the favorite beverages for business folk and just about every adult in America, coffee. It’s what gets us running for the day.
Mallory and Jake Adkison started NOLA coffee as a popup cart in May. Their cold-brewed blend was rare in these parts but a throwback to their New Orleans heritage. They rolled their cart to events across the CSRA, and their special brew caught on.
When ABD interviewed them for a story in May, Mallory said it would probably take a year before they would or could open a permanent location. Five months later and less than a week ago, their dream became a reality when NOLA Coffee opened its business at Langley Plaza in the Midland Valley area of Aiken County.
“The coffee cart created a following for our cold brew and other products. My husband and I discussed it and prayed about it. We decided it was the time to go all in and I left my position as a science teacher at North Augusta High School to run our business,” she explained.
The couple toured several locations but the Langley Plaza spot, also known as the Food Lion shopping center, seemed to be the best bet for leasing a place and for foot traffic. So far, it’s worked well.
“The day of our grand opening, we had steady traffic most of the day. We grew up here and we’ve had customers that I haven’t seen since high school. It’s been a full circle moment.”
They went through five gallons of their cold brew in less than two days. NOLA Coffee is also serving up cider, hot chocolate, and a full espresso menu. Bagels, muffins, and beignets are also available.
“Customers come in and say, this is what I normally get at Starbucks or coffee drive-thrus. We can figure out what we offer that is comparable.”
Mallory and Jake appreciate the fact that they’ve had several mentors to get them to where they are now including Chip Retson, with the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), who guided their success with weekly calls, a business plan, and a projection for the future.
Katie Gary, a local artist, did a mural for the wall above a sofa at NOLA Coffee, where you can sit and enjoy a cup of NOLA’s finest blend.
“We just wanted to create somewhere for friends and family to gather or as they say in New Orleans, where you can pass a good time.”
Editor’s Note:
Mitzi Oxford is a veteran broadcaster and features writer who also worked at the same television station in Columbus, Georgia as Augusta’s Brad Means!
If you have a South Carolina story idea for Mitzi, please email her at mitzioxfordcreative@gmail.com.
