Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Reaves.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Kevin. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My wife and I had for some time been “dreaming” of opening a gallery to display my photography (kevinreaves.com), but we had also figured it would be somewhere in Colorado. We were both born and raised in Macon and we were college sweethearts from Mercer University, where a received my degree in business, and she in education. I started thinking of doing some real estate development in downtown Macon over 5 years ago before the revitalization began. We bought a building, put 4 lofts upstairs and started thinking how we could utilize the space downstairs with a gallery and something else that would be a good fit. Hence, we came up with the idea to put in a coffee shop in the 3000-sf space and purchased the alley from the city and developed that space into more space with outdoor seating and a gas log fire pit for cool evenings.
One of the things that I believe (and our customers will attest to) that make us different, is the beauty of the space, the size, and the fact that we make all of our sauces and syrups using organic and natural products. We also have a full-service bakery where we make all of our desserts, and we offer breakfast and lunch as well. Now looking back on these last four years, we realize the timing was perfect for our “project”. Downtown is now booming with new businesses and hotels popping up almost monthly, and many new lofts and apartments have really brought an influx of people to downtown. Our next project starting in January will be an indoor Rock Climbing Gym, outdoor store, and bike shop.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has been very smooth if you kind of know what to expect. What I mean by this is too many people open the doors to a new business and believe they will start making money right off the bat. It takes time to build up a customer base and honestly, to work out the kinks of getting a new business going.
Fortunately, I knew this going in and we have been okay with that. Business is great now, but I don’t believe we have even hit our stride yet and are just now tapping into the market where we reside.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I actually own several other businesses…. I am a Landscape photographer, I have a family software business with my brother, and I do real estate development with a good friend (who co-owns the coffee shop with my wife and me). We have about a half dozen building with lofts and retail space and we own about another half dozen or more houses that we rent out in historic downtown Macon. As for the coffee shop, we have coffee, teas, smoothies, milkshakes, all kinds of desserts, breakfast, and lunch. We are known for our beautiful space, our quality products we serve, and the fact that we make all of our sauces and syrups. I am most proud of our team and the way they serve and love on others. I am proud that we have come from nothing, (we had no previous restaurant or food service experience) and have created a beautiful place that serves so many different walks of life in downtown. Our customers would say our team, our space, and the quality of what we do sets us above and beyond the competition.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I think the revitalization of downtown Macon is a testament to that fact. So many new restaurants and businesses and new hotels and retail space are being built, and parks and common areas are being improved for everyone to enjoy. No doubt it is a good place for a new business.
Contact Info:
- Address: 546 Poplar St. Macon, Ga 31201
- Website: www.tasteandseecoffee.com
- Phone: 478-238-1591
- Email: info@tasteandseecoffee.com
- Instagram: tasteandseecoffee
- Facebook: facebook.com/tasteseecoffeeshopgallery
Image Credit:
Kevin Reaves
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