5 Entrepreneurs Just Opened New Coffee Shops in 3 States

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If you’ve ever dreamed of opening a coffee shop, you’re not alone. And,  if you open through our 7 Steps to Success consulting program, you’ll never be without support — as the owners of five new coffee shops have learned.

In the first half of 2025, five first-time coffee shop owners turned their dream into reality with help from our 7 Steps to Success consulting program. These new shops, spread across Ohio, Georgia, and New York, were all launched by entrepreneurs with no experience  — just passion, a plan and our award-winning coffee and support.

Here’s a look at how these new business owners made it happen and what you can learn if you’re thinking about starting a coffee shop of your own.

Brewing Big Dreams in Small Towns (and Beyond)

These five new coffee shops opened between February and June 2025:

• Main Ground Coffee – Groveport, Ohio

• Stitch Coffee – Canton, Georgia

• Gina’s Gelato and Java – Parma Heights, Ohio

•  Red Otter Coffee – Kenmore, New York

• The Nook Coffee Bar – London, Ohio

Each shop opened through our 7 Steps to Success coffee shop startup system — a proven roadmap that walks new owners through everything from site selection and shop layout to barista training and long-term operations support.

And the best part? These shops aren’t just surviving. They’re creating jobs, fueling connections, and serving incredible coffee in communities that crave exceptional coffee served with local flavor.

Opening a Coffee Shop Without Experience? These Owners Did It.

What makes these stories so inspiring is that none of the owners came from the coffee industry. They came from corporate jobs, military life, event planning, or other fields — and still opened successful cafés with strong community support.

Only Stitch Coffee Owners Dave and Kelli Hickey had any coffee experience. Before Stitch Coffee, the couple opened, grew and then sold The Coffee Potter in Long Valley, New Jersey with guidance from Crimson Cup.

Their experience, combined with ongoing consulting from the 7 Steps team, has enabled them to bring the same passion for great coffee and customer connection to Canton, Georgia.

They named their new shop Stitch Coffee to honor the town’s cotton-mill roots and their goal of “stitching” the community together. “We want to be captains of our own ship and masters of our destiny,” said Dave.

As first-time coffee shop owners, Gina and Jeff Caro leaned on Gina’s Gelato and Java, leaned on the 7 Steps program for expert guidance and hands-on support at every step.

“We didn’t want a cookie-cutter business,” Gina said. “We had original ideas, and Crimson Cup helped us bring them to life.”

From layout and equipment selection to barista training and customer service tips, the couple credits the comprehensive nature of the 7 Steps program with their shop’s successful launch. They also gave a special shoutout to Crimson Cup team members Steve Bayless and Heather Syx for their support during startup.

“Crimson Cup’s support was — and still is — overwhelming in the best way,” said Jeff.

In Groveport, restaurateur Avery Ward turned to the 7 Steps to launch Main Ground Coffee in the historic building where his family opened their first Italian eatery 45 years ago.  “Crimson Cup doesn’t just hand you a manual and wish you luck — they roll up their sleeves and get in the trenches with you,” he said. “From buildout to training and education, they’ve been hands-on and invested in our success.”

In New York, Red Otter Coffee married couple Victoria Mamat and Robert Nunnally left behind corporate careers to build something meaningful in their community.

With Victoria’s background in food service (but not coffee) and Robert running the shop full time, the duo envisioned a place where “a cup of coffee might just change the course of someone’s day.”

“We knew we didn’t know what we were doing,” said Robert. “Crimson Cup gave us a framework and honest expectations. It’s been invaluable.”

Want to Open a Coffee Shop? Here’s How to Get Started.

If you’re wondering how to start a coffee shop — even if you’ve never worked in one — Crimson Cup’s 7 Steps to Success might be the launchpad you’re looking for.

The program is based on founder Greg Ubert’s book, Seven Steps to Success: A Common-sense Guide to Succeed in Specialty Coffee. It’s designed to make the startup process clear, doable and personal to you. You’ll get guidance on:

• Finding the right location

• Writing a coffee shop business plan

• Building out your space

• Hiring and training staff

• Creating your menu

• Marketing your shop

• Growing sustainably with expert support

“Opening a coffeehouse can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be,” said Ubert. “We created the 7 Steps program to simplify the process and walk side-by-side with owners as they build businesses that last.”

Ready to Brew Your Own Success Story?

If these five new owners can do it, so can you.

Whether you’re dreaming of a cozy neighborhood café, a drive-thru espresso trailer or a full-service coffee shop, Crimson Cup can help you get there. More than 300 independent shops across 37 states have launched through the 7 Steps to Success — and most are still growing.

To get started, order our 7 Steps Coffee Shop Startup Kit or schedule a conversation with a member of the 7 Steps team. Call or email Scott Fullerton, 7 Steps Sales Leader, at 1-888-800-9224 or sfullerton@crimsoncup.com for a no-pressure chat about your goals.