Meet Shelby Harris of State + Jones Coffee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Harris.

Hi Shelby, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Today, I’m the owner and operator of State + Jones Coffee, a Johns Creek hub for great coffee, breakfast, and community. But my path here wasn’t a straight line. Just two years ago, I made a major pivot from teaching violin to diving full-time into my entrepreneurial journey. I’ve always been an entrepreneur at heart—having previously owned a popcorn company in Chicago where I first cut my teeth in business ownership. Life is full of untried opportunities, and I’ve always believed in exploring the ones that speak to your heart. State + Jones is the beautiful result of taking that leap.

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 been a beautiful, chaotic road, and certainly not a smooth one. Transitioning into this role meant learning to wear a dizzying number of hats all at once. On any given day, I’m the financial planner, the administrative team, the manager, a barista, and the full-time cook. The customer-facing side is an absolute joy—I love navigating hospitality with the genuine desire to make everyone who walks through our doors feel like they’re a guest in my own home. But balancing that warmth with the less pleasant reality of keeping an eye on the bottom line is incredibly hard. Learning to protect the heart of the business while keeping the business structurally sound has been my biggest learning curve.

As you know, we’re big fans of State + Jones Coffee. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
While State + Jones was originally intended to be a coffee-only concept, it has evolved into something much bigger because of my love for cooking. Today, I don’t just manage daily operations—I’m also the full-time cook, bringing the same love and care into the shop’s kitchen that I do at home. We’ve become known for our scratch-made baked goods and a small but incredibly delicious menu, featuring crowd favorites like our Avocado Toast and what our regulars call ‘the best BLT they’ve ever had.’

What sets us apart is the integrity of our preparation—from the premium quality of our ingredients to the precision of our execution. But it’s also the intentionality behind the entire experience. My husband and I designed the logo and curated the brand feel ourselves, obsessing over every single detail to ensure it felt cohesive.

I’m incredibly proud that our tiny kitchen can produce such high-quality food, but I’m equally proud of the atmosphere we’ve built. One of the highest compliments we get is when new customers ask, ‘Is this a chain?’ It tells us that all the thought, love, and detail we poured into creating this brand from scratch has truly landed well with our community.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
That’s a hard question to answer about myself. I think the me that others would describe was very serious, although I remember laughing all the time with my family. I adored my Lite Brite™, wanted to be just like She-Ra, dreamed of riding a real My Little Pony to school, and believed that if Strawberry Shortcake were an actual live girl, we might be best friends. I’ve always been a dreamer with a sobered personality. I call it ‘head in the clouds and feet on the ground’.
I starting playing violin at age 2, so that likely shaped my toddler brain into the mini-me that was able to hear musical pitches in things like water dripping, or engines humming. I was able to memorize things quite easily and can still recall many of those things I learned. I learned about Jesus when I was around four years old. I mention this because what is actually most clear to me as I look back to my childhood, adolescence and adulthood, is the presence and participation of The Holy Spirit in my life. He has been a tangible part of every moment and I can attribute my learning and successes to Him.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stateandjones.com
• Instagram: @stateandjonescoffee
• Twitter: stateandjones