Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Burton.
Alexis, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was diagnosed with a brain tumor 6 years ago and during my recovery I realized life was too short not to follow your dreams. One of my dreams was to own a coffee shop/restaurant. So I stepped out of my fear and decided to create my dream! I’ve been going strong for four years, not without stress and a huge amount of trial and error. I have no business background or restaurant background so every turn was a challenge. I lived in a town with no place to get coffee and just sit with friends or get non fried food! So I took my vision and created an atmosphere that I wanted to be in with a menu of soups, Salads, Sandwiches and great coffee. I’ve slowly evolved over the past four years and added beer/wine, open mic nights, trivia and live music and have added new menu items as well!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My biggest struggle was getting past all of the inspections and paperwork starting out… everything was a learning curve… as time has passed its gotten much easier.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Cotton Cafe – what should we know?
The Cotton Cafe is a “mom and pop” restaurant on the outskirts of Atlanta. We serve Jittery Joes coffee and have a full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu. We are known for our chicken Waldorf sandwiches and our grits! I’m most proud of my staff… I have the best staff and without them this wouldn’t work! Our staff, food and atmosphere sets us apart from others… ask anyone they will tell you!
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
So many people deserve credit… my front end manager Tanya Gardner who’s been with me since the start. She’s the most loyal person I know. William Chapman and Walter Wellman owned my building and supported me and guided me through this journey, giving me financial advice. All of my regular customers are my biggest cheerleaders! My daughter who is my driving force.
Contact Info:
- Address: 136N Broad Street
Monroe, GA
30655 - Website:Www.thecottoncafe.net
- Phone:678-635-7225
- Email:thecottoncafe@outlook.com
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
