Exploring Life & Business with DeWayne & LaToya Griffin of Just Love Coffee & Cafe Alpharetta

Today we’d like to introduce you to DeWayne & LaToya Griffin.

Hi DeWayne & LaToya, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
LaToya and I have been married for 21 years and are proud parents of three children. A pillar to our marriage is the once a year annual planning we do in December/January timeframe. During this planning we reflect on the year that has past and discuss and write down our goals for the upcoming year. We also spend time discussing our lifetime dreams whether that be an individual bucket list item or things we hope to achieve together as a couple or family. We loosely discussed in one of these planning sessions a dream for us to open a coffee shop.

Our dream of one day opening a coffee shop began in our 30s when we discovered our love of coffee while frequenting various coffee houses in Central Illinois. Our dream started to become a reality after the pandemic. We both experienced unexpected shifts in our professional careers post-pandemic, leaving us feeling uncertain about the future and seeking a more fulfilling path. The pandemic, with its lockdowns and social distancing, highlighted the importance of human connection and the role local businesses play in fostering a sense of belonging. It was then that DeWayne and LaToya decided to turn their long-held dream into a reality. Drawn to Just Love Coffee & Cafe’s mission of spreading love and building community, they felt it aligned perfectly with their own values and aspirations. It was May 2023 when a family adventure at Discovery Day to learn about the coffee brand in Brentwood, Tennessee, solidified our decision. With their oldest son Tre’on, a coffee aficionado with many years of barista experience joining the team, this is truly a family affair.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not a smooth road. We signed our agreement to open Just Love in June of 2023. We expected to be ready to open in early 2024, but in reality we did not open until March 31st 2025. The long journey of finding a location, finalizing designs, working with a Corporate franchise owner team and local municipalities, etc. truly turned out to become a heroine effort. An effort spearheaded by LaToya who really built the relationships, made all major decisions, and kept DeWayne in speed as he worked his Corporate job. This really has been a journey to get to open. The one peaceful benefit we found was the funding which we saved our hard earned dollars to be in position to not need a loan. We learned from others how much that kept pressure off our timeline.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
A locally owned and operated coffee shop offering delicious waffles, signature womelettes, and variety of lattes. We have a cozy and welcoming atmosphere with friendly and attentive staff here to serve. Our location has ample parking is conveniently located close by downtown Alpharetta and the famous Avalon mall.

How do you think about luck?
LaToya retired from her 24 year corporate career in 2022 a year before 2023 decided to make a career transition. Both these moments combined with a lot of prayer and the right financial preparation birthed the opportunity for us to discover and launch creation of Just Love Coffee & Cafe Alpharetta.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://justlovecoffeecafe.com/ga-alpharetta/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justlovealpharetta
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justlovealpharetta/