The rise of the neighborhood coffee shop

The COVID-19 pandemic was undeniably detrimental to businesses around the world — and coffee shops were no exception.

A coffee shop is a specialized establishment primarily focused on serving coffee and espresso-based drinks, along with a selection of teas, pastries, and light snacks. Unlike a restaurant, where coffee may be an accompaniment to a broader menu, a coffee shop centers its experience around the coffee itself, often providing a cozy atmosphere for socializing, working, or relaxing.

Before the pandemic, many coffee shops tended to be located in highly-populated urban centers, along commuter routes, or next to offices and train stations. But when people stopped traveling and started working from home during the pandemic, a large number of these coffee shops were forced to shut down.

However, a small selection of coffee shops thrived in this environment. These were the ones located in residential areas — the neighborhood coffee shop.

This phenomenon is evident here in Elkin as well as in Yadkin County, two rural areas in North Carolina.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, these two areas have each lost a coffee shop or two, but a total of seven new ones have been added to the fray with two more currently in the works.

In a short time frame, Yadkin County saw the opening and closing of Carolina Coffee n Creamery. But it more than made up for that loss with the opening of Garden Route Coffee in December 2021, of Milk & Honey Coffee Co. in July 2022, and the upcoming opening of a Starbucks at the end of this year.

These three shops are located in Yadkinville, but that’s not where the coffee fever stopped. Books & Brew opened in East Bend February 2021, and River Roast Coffee just opened in Jonesville in June of this year.

That’s five new coffee shops in Yadkin County, all opened within the last three years.

Then in Elkin, two chain coffee shops were added to the local business scene with Talia’s opening in 2020 and Starbucks opening at the end of 2022. Additionally, another Garden Route Coffee soft-opened in Elkin on July 25, with the grand opening scheduled for Aug. 24. And finally, the local coffee chain Dirty Joe’s was bought out by Yadkinville’s Milk & Honey this year, and their new Elkin location is currently in the works.

Stevie Wiles is the manager of Garden Route’s Elkin location — an opportunity that just “fell in our lap,” she said. Having worked at the Yadkinville location since January 2022, she has noticed the recent boom of the local coffee scene.

“I love to see it. I love a good coffee area,” she said.

All of these coffee shops feature similar menus — a wide selection of coffee and espresso drinks; pastries and baked goods; and other drinks like teas, lemonades, and smoothies. Most have indoor seating, and some have drive-throughs.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have undeniably reshaped the coffee shop landscape, especially in rural areas like Yadkin County and Elkin. What once seemed like a threat to the survival of local businesses has, in fact, sparked a resurgence in neighborhood coffee shops. These new establishments not only fill the void left by those that closed but also foster community connections and offer a welcoming space for both work and leisure.

As more people continue to value convenience and a sense of local charm, these coffee shops have become a vital part of the post-pandemic lifestyle, signaling a promising future for the coffee culture in these regions.