When Gabi Alberdi closed the doors of her beloved coffee shop three years ago, she left big shoes to fill (and a small shopfront). Kristin Credle and Rebecca Younce, two local business owners and former patrons of Gabi’s, have decided to take up the challenge. Their new shop, What the Cup, opens this week with the aim to bring the warmth, charm, and everyone-knows-your-name feel of Gabi’s, but with their own stylish twist.
“We loved Gabi’s and would go there all the time,” Credle said. She and Younce own Gl’Amour, a salon located just across the parking lot from the coffee shop on Jane Crump Way.
While neither has direct experience owning a coffee shop, they’ve received some extensive training from a former corporate trainer with Caribou Coffee. And, they feel prepared for this new venture, they say, because there a lot of similarities between the salon business and the coffee business.
“The root of any good business is building good relationships, period,” Younce said. It’s what she and Credle do all the time with their Gl’Amour clients, and it’s what they plan to do with their new coffee clients. They are now in the process of hiring staff members who can also foster that “family” feel.
“You can teach the trade, but you have to hire good people,” Younce said. And she feels that she and Credle know what to look for.
In addition to the staff, the product has to be great, and Younce and Credle found a Monroe-based coffee roaster who roasts and delivers the beans to their door personally. His product is top-notch, they say, and they are happy to be supporting a nearby business. They’re also looking into carrying baked goods and other treats from local businesses and would like to expand their offerings to include local beers and wines (pending permit).
Want to check it out?
The shop will have a soft opening this week, with a new look and new staff, but the same mission: To be that go-to corner coffee shop where everybody knows everybody.
“It gives people another place to walk to, adding to that downtown feel,” Younce said. “We’re getting back to customer service and building relationships – I think that’s what Old Town Cornelius is all about.”
More info
What the Cup is located at 19915 Jane Crump Way
Initially, the hours will be 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., but the plan is to extend hours to 11 p.m. eventually.
A grand opening will follow soon.
About the contributor:
Christina is a local multimedia content producer and digital strategist. Formerly the editor of CorneliusNews.net, she is thrilled to work with the OTC team to once again help tell the ever-evolving Cornelius story. She lives nearby with her husband, Nate, and a small menagerie of 2- and 4-legged beasties.
Christina Ritchie Rogers
Christina is a local multimedia content producer and digital strategist. Formerly the editor of CorneliusNews.net, she is thrilled to work with the OTC team to once again help tell the ever-evolving Cornelius story. She lives nearby with her husband, Nate, and a small menagerie of 2- and 4-legged beasties.
