Uptown Coffee Company
Frequently Asked Questions
1.
Q: How did Corey Lowery get started in the coffee business?
A: Corey worked at a coffee shop at the beach in Wilmington, NC, one summer. At first, he didn’t like being a barista, but the business of coffee started to brew in him.
2.
Q: How did Corey end up in Wadesboro?
A: Corey is a native of Wadesboro, NC. He graduated from Anson High School and then South Piedmont Community College. After working one summer in Wilmington, he moved back to Wadesboro and started working at Speckled Paw Coffee Shop.
3.
Q: What was his experience like as a barista at Speckled Paw?
A: Corey incorporated what he learned in Wilmington at Speckled Paw and build on his experience. He impressed the owners so that they promoted him to manager. Once he led the opening of the second location at SPCC, he was promoted to procure manager.
4.
Q: What led Corey to become owner of his own coffee shop?
A: After working at Speckled Paw for two years, he approached the owners about leaving and starting his own coffee shop. To his surprise, the owners offered to sell him their business.
5.
Q: What were some of the challenges in opening Uptown Coffee Company?
A: Differentiating Uptown Coffee from the previous coffee shop and not being on the main thoroughfare in town were some of the biggest challenges in addition to staffing.
6.
Q: How did Uptown Coffee Company address those challenges?
A: Corey became director of Uptown Wadesboro, an organization that oversees the annual Christmas parade, which gave him and his brand better visibility. He also posted a sign on the main highway that directs people to the only locally-owned coffee shop in town.
7.
Q: What are some unique qualities about Uptown Coffee Company?
A: Corey originally wanted to name the coffee shop “The Gathering Spot.” The activities he sponsors reflect his intention. Uptown Coffee hosts live music, worship services and offers meeting spaces, which sets it apart from its competition.
8.
Q: Who is the competition for Uptown Coffee Company since it’s the only locally-owned coffee shop?
A: The national chain, Dunkin Donuts, shares the market with Uptown Coffee Company.
9.
Q: How do you promote your brand so that customers choose Uptown versus Dunkin?
A: Uptown Coffee focuses on quality versus quantity. It is intentional about each cup of coffee it makes for its customers. Uptown Coffee strives to know each customer by name and their favorite drinks. Customers are also featured in a monthly spotlight and included on the social media pages of Uptown Coffee. The customer engagement piece is the advantage. Additionally, because Uptown Coffee is locally owned, it is more invested in the community it serves.
10.
Q: How have customers received Corey as a young, Black male entrepreneur in the coffee business?
A: Corey is an anomaly in the coffee business in that he is young, male and African American. He is proud that he is breaking barriers in this industry and so is the community. He also has an infectious personality, which draws people to him and makes everyone feel warm and welcome. His personality is one of his greatest assets.
11.
Q: Why do you think more African Americans are not in the coffee industry?
A: Historically, African Americans are often denied access to loans for capital investments, which prevents them from starting their own businesses. This is a systemic problem in America.
12.
Q: Do you have plans to expand outside of Anson County?
A: If the right opportunity provides itself, Uptown Coffee will consider expanding but will always strive to have a presence in Anson County.
13.
Q: Do you foresee Uptown Coffee providing packaged coffee products in the future?
A: This is a lofty venture that would require substantial investment, but nothing is off the table for discussion.
14.
Q: What would you say to those who purport that starting a business in a small, rural community is a risk?
A: Uptown Coffee’s experience has been exceptional. The support from the community is consistent and encouraging. A recent random survey of Anson County citizens showed that being a locally-owned business was the top reason for support.
15.
Q: Do you feel that worship services at the coffee shop may dissuade some customers?
A: Corey is a man of faith and lives strongly by his convictions. However, he is tolerate of those who believe differently. The worship services are held outside of business hours and does not impact the customer experience at the coffee shop.
16.
Q: Do you feel it is a conflict of interest to own a business in uptown Wadesboro and serve as director of the Uptown Wadesboro organization?
A: Absolutely not. A local business owner is an ideal candidate for the position because the organization, in addition to planning the Christmas parade, focuses on revitalizing the uptown area through commerce and activities.
17.
Q: Do you believe your success is because of the clientele already established by the previous owners of Speckled Paw coffee shop?
A: Uptown Coffee has several customers who were also patrons of Speckled Paw, and Corey is appreciative of them as well as new customers because he was a part of the management team under the previous owners.
18.
Q: What’s next for Uptown Coffee Company?
A: Uptown would like to hire new staff so that it can extend its office hours, especially on the weekends.
19.
Q: At the age of 25, Corey is classified as a millennial. How does that lend to his experience as the owner of a coffee shop?
A: Millennials make up the largest demographic that supports coffee shop purchases. Because Corey is a millennial, he is keenly aware of what millennials would like to see on the menu and in the physical environment of coffee shops to include creative workspaces and ambient lighting.
20.
Q: Had Uptown Coffee heard about Hometown Chronicles USA before the feature opportunity?
A: The Home Chronicles YouTube channel premiered just last year so it is fairly new. However, it is a wonderful platform to discover interesting places to go and things to do throughout small towns in the USA, including at Uptown Coffee Company in Wadesboro.