Wilmington-based Coffee Vendor Plans Triad Sites
WILMINGTON, N.C.-- (THE BUSINESS JOURNAL OF THE GREATER TRIAD AREA) -- July 19, 2005 -- The rapidly growing coffee house Port City Java is making its first foray into the Triad with stores planned for Greensboro and Winston-Salem.
The company, based in Wilmington, is opening a Greensboro franchise in September in Price Place Center at 4610 W. Market St., and executives are currently scouting sites for a Winston-Salem store.
" We know (the Triad is) a good market if you look at the demographics and the growth that's going on, " said Don Reynolds, Port City Java's chief operating officer. " We feel like we can also leverage our brand name there (because) a lot of those folks vacation in Wilmington and Myrtle Beach (and know us). "
Reynolds said the company also is trying to " fill in the corridor " between its strong presence along the coast and in Asheville. Stores are currently under construction in Raleigh and Durham as well.
The two Triad franchises are under separate ownership, but Reynolds declined to name the owners.
The stores will have about 16 to 18 employees each, he said.
Ports Architects of Cleveland designed the Price Place Center store, located in the former Jiffy Lube in the shopping center parking lot, and Mega Builders LLC of Greensboro is working on a $150,000 renovation of the building.
Reynolds said Port City Java, founded in 1995, has been in a rapid growth phase recently and has sold 312 franchise rights since it began franchising in late 2003.
He expects nearly 100 stores in 16 states to be up and running by the end of the year.
All Port City Java stores offer drive-through service, a juice bar, sandwiches and its own line of baked goods, but Reynolds said the company hangs its hat on its organic coffees raised and sold in a socially responsible manner.
That concept is increasingly popular with consumers and offers opportunities for retailers, said Joseph DeRupo, spokesman for the National Coffee Association of USA Inc., a New York-based trade group.
" It is a growing trend, " he said. " It's still a very small proportion of the marketplace, but judging from the fact that Americans seem to be grabbing on to all the new varieties of coffees in the marketplace, I think there's opportunity for (fair-trade and organic) coffee. "
About the Port City Java® Brand
Port City Java® is located in Wilmington, NC. The Company opened its first café in March 1995, in Wilmington, NC. The Company began Roasting in October 1995 and Franchising in September 2003. Port City Java® has created a specific identity by creating an " all day approach " to sales, through its café environment. For additional information regarding Port City Java®, please email us.
