Rare Bird Emporium Opens in Murphy, North Carolina
November 7, 2022 (Published: November 13, 2020)
At the new Rare Bird Emporium in Murphy, North Carolina, guests sip exceptional coffee and tea while browsing an eclectic collection of handmade gifts by local artisans – plus new, vintage and repurposed items.
Working Together, Doing What They Love
After operating a gift shop called In with the Old for a few years, owners Kate and Pav Templeton decided it was time for an upgrade. They remodeled a new location using repurposed materials such as a grain silo and wood from their old shop.
“Our desire has always been to make a living doing something we love,” said Kate. “The success of our old shop gave us an opportunity to shape a location that we would love even more, allowing us to work together and have more time with our family.”
With an extensive construction background, Pav oversaw remodeling. Kate focused on planning retail operations.
Their mission was to create a community gathering place for Cherokee County. “After months of sheltering in place, we wanted our new store to be a safe place for people to feel comfortable and have conversations again,” Kate said. “Of course, nothing brings people together like coffee!”
The Jitters Coffee House Connection
Kate’s uncle Martin Mann suggested the new shop needed a beverage upgrade – offering specialty coffee drinks instead of self-serve java in air pots. The owner of Jitters Coffee House in Millersburg, Ohio, Martin recommended Crimson Cup, his partner in coffee.
“We’re honored that Martin recommended us to his family,” said Founder and President Greg Ubert. “I can’t believe it’s been nearly a decade since we met with Martin and helped him open Jitters.
“We are excited to partner with Kate and Pav achieve their vision for Rare Bird and support their success over the next decade too.”
Learning the 7 Steps to Success
Through our 7 Steps to Coffee Shop Startup Success franchise alternative program, Crimson Cup has helped over 300 entrepreneurs in 30 states start unique independent coffee shops in their local communities. Even during the pandemic, the award-winning coffee roaster has helped more than a dozen entrepreneurs open new and thriving coffee shops in 2020.
Based on Greg’s book, “Seven Steps to Success: A Common-Sense Guide to Succeed in Specialty Coffee,” the program teaches everything needed to open and run a profitable coffee shop.
From selecting the right location to writing a strong coffee shop business plan to training baristas and staff, Crimson Cup guides new coffee shop owners from initial concept through opening day and beyond.
“Our support and training don’t end on opening day,” Ubert said. “We provide continuing support to our customers as they grow their business. We succeed when our partners succeed.”
At the beginning of the pandemic, for example, the Crimson Cup team helped customers adapt to changing customer needs and habits. “We also connect our independent coffeehouse owners with one another, to share their experiences of what’s working in their local communities,” Ubert said.
A Proven Partner and Process
The Templetons found Crimson Cup’s expertise invaluable in opening their business. “Coming from never having a business like this to creating a business plan and knowing that it was a proven concept reassured me we could do this,” Kate said.
“In fact, I’d advise other owners to work with Crimson Cup from the very beginning. We didn’t end up saving money doing it ourselves, because we had to go back and redo a lot of things. There were mishaps we could have avoided by having their guidance from day one.”
Pav Templeton
Now open at 680 Andrews Road, Rare Bird Emporium invites guests into a unique coffee and shopping experience. “We pride ourselves on serving specialty coffee in a friendly environment,” Kate said. “Our goal is to support other local craftspeople and businesses through the sale of retail items. We love seeing people reading books, relaxing, enjoying a terrific coffee drink.”
Kate said she’s encouraged and grateful for the community support during the shop’s first few weeks. “After working so long this summer on our project it was a dream to see people sitting at our tables, enjoying a cup of coffee and shopping.”
Award-winning Crimson Cup Coffee
Customers love the coffee, which is roasted by Crimson Cup. Over the past five years, the Columbus, Ohio roaster has won several national coffee awards – including a 2020 Good Food Award, which recognizes the best tasting, most responsibly sourced coffees in the United States.
“We’ve had really positive feedback,” Kate said. “We see lots of opportunity to serve specialty beverages and introduce our customers to drinks beyond vanilla lattes.”
The shop’s signature Rare Bird Mocha, which melds fresh espresso with white chocolate and caramel, has become a fan favorite.
Rare Bird Emporium is open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed Sundays. To keep up with events and announcements, follow the store’s Facebook Page.