Ellianos Coffee gets brewing at grand opening

PORT CHARLOTTE — Car washes and storage centers seem to keep popping up on every corner, but so are coffee shops.

A new drive-thru only coffee and breakfast shop celebrated its grand opening in Port Charlotte.

A ribbon cutting by the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce at 19175 Peachland Blvd. drew dozens to check out the java and snacks.

Erinn and John Rasmussen, and Susanna and Matthew Aubert, opened the new spot earlier in the month and will have a total of six of the franchises in the area.

The four retired to the area from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, where John Rasmussen and Matthew Aubert worked.

The Rasmussens live in Punta Gorda, and Auberts in North Port.

Erinn and Susanna met one another in the UAE while walking their dogs, and decided to move to the Sunshine State for a new business venture after conferring with their husbands.

After two years of legwork, the couple is now set to open what they plan to be a half-dozen Ellianos coffee shops.

Those locations, all owned by the same franchisees, also look set for DeSoto and Sarasota counties.

There will be one off Jacaranda Boulevard in Venice; another in Arcadia off U.S. 70; and one in Englewood.

They are also looking at North Port and Sarasota as potential spots for their fifth and sixth local locations. Nothing is confirmed on that front, however.

While opening the new double drive-thru coffee hub in Port Charlotte, they shared some information on what they and Ellianos are all about.

The Port Charlotte franchise opened Sept. 4 and things are going well so far, Erinn Rasmussen said. She said Ellianos is hoping to be a staple that is involved in the community, having already helped sponsor a local event.

Ellianos has six signature drinks that it is known for.

Those include cafè dulces that can be hot or cold, cookies and cream freezers, milkshakes, smoothies, energy drinks and more.

There are also food options at the new location.

Sweet treats like cake pops are available along with breakfast and lunch sandwiches and breakfast bowls.

“It really is something different," Erinn Rasmussen said of the options available. "And we’re sticklers on the baristas we hire, we want excellent service.”