Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Fiegle.
Hi Elizabeth, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi! I’m Elizabeth, the owner of River Road Coffee and Popsicles, and forever a professional barista. Being a barista had been a dream of mine since I was in college. There was an old home that had been converted into a coffee shop a short walk from my college campus and it was there sitting on their couches that I fell in love with all things local coffee shops and coffee in general. My friends and I spent hours there, that place becoming a second home to us all. The baristas became our friends and the drinks our companions long into nights of studying. I observed the life that happened in coffee shops and knew something in my heart had sparked.
Fast forward about three years and a move back to my hometown of Merritt Island, Florida in 2015 and I began to think more seriously about what it would take to open my own shop – but now, not just a coffee shop – a coffee and popsicle shop. I had lived in Jackson, MS and it was there that I watched a local coffee and popsicle shop thrive and thought it was the most natural idea for a business in Florida, one that had yet to be done in Brevard County.
The first thing I did was ask my dad what he thought. He has owned a small business my entire life and I wanted his wisdom of how to start. The best advice he gave me was to go work in the coffee industry for a year – see if I even liked it before I staked my entire life on opening a business. I tried for about a year and half to get hired as a Barista anywhere, but it just never seemed to work out. Then, one day I saw a new local coffee shop opening and happened to meet the owner when I peeked into their windows.
Before I knew it, I had an interview and soon after, was hired. I remember my very first shift working as a Barista, I thought to myself as we were closing up, “There is nothing else I want to do.” I loved it, I was hooked. No job I had held had ever captured my passion and attention as much as being a barista had. I worked at this shop for a year and half, loving all I was learning and dreaming up the future of owning my own shop one day.
I didn’t actually think I would ever open my own coffee and Popsicle shop though. I didn’t know where to even begin or how to convince a bank to give me money. I figured I would need something more than just “I have this dream…” to convince a lender to loan me money. This next part still gives me chills – through a series of events over about four months, I found myself in May of 2018 with the reality that I could open my own coffee shop if I wanted to. I had no excuses other than fear, and I decided long ago I wouldn’t ever let fear hold me back from trying something. So I went for it.
February 2019 I found the location by happenstance, kind of stumbled upon it, and found myself three days later signing a lease for my dream come true. I felt like I was on autopilot during the build out. I know it typically doesn’t go that way with build outs, but we really stuck to our schedule. I found myself with a staff hired, machines working, and a real life coffee and popsicle shop that was all my own. June 15, 2019, River Road Coffee and Popsicles opened its doors. I haven’t looked back since the day we opened our doors. Running a small business isn’t for the faint of heart, but it is the best thing I’ve ever gotten to do. The community we get to be a part of, the people we’ve met, and the love we’ve felt for the last year and half is the greatest gift.
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?
Honestly, even in the midst of a Pandemic after being opened only eight months, it has been a smooth road. The pandemic was a huge twist and one that forced me to think of ways to keep River Road opened. Although it was scary to be faced with the very real reality that we could be closed, it also helped me learn to adapt and come up with new ideas for us to be able to remain opened.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about River Road Coffee and Popsicles?
River Road Coffee and Popsicles is a gourmet Popsicle and craft coffee shop located in Cocoa Village, Florida. All of our popsicles are made in our shop by our staff and we have over 100 recipes that include alcohol infused popsicles we call Boozicles. We feature Black Cat Coffee which is roasted locally in Titusville, FL and have a rotating seasonal drink menu. Some of our favorite drinks are our Vanilla Rose Latte, Florida Mocha, Coco Loco Americano, Unicorn Lemonade, and many more! We pride ourselves in being a home for those in our community whether they’re a student, professional, or family just wanting to hang out.
Contact Info:
- Email: riverroadcp@gmail.com
- Website: Riverroadcp.com
- Instagram: @Riverroadcp
- Facebook: River Road Coffee and Popsicles
Image Credits
Moth and Moon Photography
