Meet Christian Green of Green Beans ATL

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christian Green.

Hi Christian, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Atlanta and my first jobs in high school were working in various restaurants and service industry jobs. Throughout high school and into college, I continued to grow my career in the restaurant industry while obtaining degrees in Finance and Economics. During that time, I also met my wife and we started growing our family. After over a decade working in food and beverage at five star, five diamond hotels, I left the restaurant industry for a corporate job in order to be able to work a schedule that allowed me to prioritize time with my girls. While the schedule was ideal, I struggled to find the heart and the passion in the corporate world. In 2023, the company I was working for at the time was restructuring and as a result my position was eliminated. This sparked a journey to build a dream to life. The process began of brainstorming and planning what would eventually be Green Beans ATL. As I was driving home from dropping off my daughters at school one day, I drove down United Ave. and saw a for lease sign on the side of the building. I made a phone call to the number on that sign and it was like the stars perfectly aligned in that moment. Within three weeks, the wheels were in motion to open. My wife and I spent countless hours pouring over the menu, the interior design, the details that were important to us. We called in favors from friends and family to help us out, and by April 2024, it was time to open the doors. We were (and still are) so lucky to have stumbled upon the dream team that is our staff. We knew that the people were the most important investment we could make and we’ve had the same familiar faces greeting our customers since we opened. Since opening, we have made it a goal to be a community space where it feels like you are in your best friends living room or sitting at your sister’s dining room table.

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?
It has definitely not been smooth sailing! We have had many challenges along the way, between building delays, permit holdups, confusion over grease trap regulations, but we have been incredibly fortunate to have a network of support within the Grant Park community as well as our own community of family and friends that have helped us over the hurdles. We’ve had friends jump in to cover a shift, family that donated beautiful artwork to fill the space, and customers who have gone by to check on the shop at 11pm when we thought there may have been a problem. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful community!

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 are a local coffee shop in the Grant Park area. Green Beans ATL specializes in our coffee made from our in-house roasted beans. We also offer fun and innovative syrups made by our talented baristas that can ramp up a basic blend to an exciting latte experience. Green Beans ATL also serves fresh pastries from Alons bakery as well as a variety of sandwiches and salads that rotate seasonally. Our interior was strategically designed for a variety of uses. We have plenty of loungy comfortable seating where you can kick back with a friend and catch up, or we also offer a quite study lounge area with booths and chairs designed for working remotely or having a more formal meeting. The study lounge is also available for rent for private events and meetings. Something that makes Green Beans ATL special are the little touches like our cozy mugs and glassware for those that choose to stay and sip, or our walk up window for our friends with dogs that still want to grab a cup of coffee on their walk (paired with a treat for the pup as well).

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
My advice would be to approach every interaction with the assumption that there is something to be learned. I have found that just having conversations with others and building relationships creates a bigger and wider network than you think. Spend more time listening and I’ve found that you can learn a great deal, even in unexpected places.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.greenbeansatl.com
• Instagram: @greenbeansatl
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Green-Beans-ATL-61557948279926/