Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon and Christian. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Sleepyhead Coffee started in September 2018 as a coffee cart by owners Brandon and Christian. The two were inspired by the mobile cart idea after visiting San Francisco, a city where that concept is not as unfamiliar as it was in Chattanooga. The name ‘Sleepyhead’ was accidental. One said “Wake up Sleepyhead” to the other and it clicked! Once the cart was secured, they began heavily researching how to actually own a business. Brandon had many years of experience in the coffee industry and Christian worked at a bank so he naturally focused more on logistics. After launching the cart with a much different aesthetic than they have now, they happened upon the space where their flagship was later opened, the James Building. Their storefront opened on March 4th, 2019 and had been home of many changes and growth. With just a personal credit card and a dream, the pair started with very basic equipment and once Sleepyhead gained popularity, they finally remodeled in January 2021 bringing you the Sleepyhead Coffee you can enjoy today. Although Sleepyhead has a confident brand and vibe, this is only the beginning. Brandon and Christian have many big dreams that they will one day reach.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We got lucky! Our space in the James Building sat vacant for so long so our landlord was gracious enough to let us “popup” there for three months to test it out before committing to a several yeared lease. We originally approached them to ask about parking our cart out front when they made us aware of the retail space they had. Once they offered a popup arrangement, we couldn’t turn it down! Although we were both unsure how to own a business, we had the drive and passion it took to research it and make our dreams come true.
The biggest obstacle however, was COVID! After only 1 year of being in business, we were hit with probably the biggest obstacle we’ll ever experience. We shortened our hours to save on labor and changed our systems to allow curbside and online ordering. We’re thankful to live in a city so supportive of small business and credit our survival to the handful of regulars we had during the height of COVID.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We’re a multi-roaster coffee shop featuring coffee roasted in partnership with Brandywine Coffee Roasters. We also have a rotating coffee program for our pour-over offerings and feature a new coffee shop regularly bring something new to our customers. Many of our flavors are made in-house and we have a seasonal menu that changes with the seasons. Our vegan/gluten-free donuts are made in-house plus we have bagels and other pastries from other local bakeries. We are known for our signature pink color and plant populated seating area. COFFEE, PASTRIES, PLANTS. We are the only gay-owned coffee shop in Chattanooga and we’re proud to offer a sober, safe space for people of all sexualities, religions, races, genders.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
We love collaboration! We’ve collaborated with many local artists, businesses, and creators in the past. We collab with Brandywine Coffee Roasters, host a wildly successful yearly market with some of the best artists in Chattanooga for our anniversary party, and sell pastries from LGBTQ+ and women-owned shops in town called Poppyton’s Patisserie, and so much more! It is so important to us to collaborate with other creatives, particularly minorities.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sleepyhead.coffee
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/sleepyheadchatt
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sleepyheadchatt/
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/6All6r8w7pb
Image Credits
For photos 1,2,3,5,8 Shot by Casey Yoshida/Brightside Creates
