Kind Kups

Kind Kups is a coffee shop that started in Cleveland, Alabama, and recently expanded to Springville; they employ 12 people.  Owner Kevin Browning talks about his decision to start the business, and how he worked with the Alabama SBDC at JSU to explore all of his options:

“My family lives in Cleveland, Alabama and we recognized an opportunity for a business such as our coffee shop. Knowing Cleveland is at an intersection of State Highway 231 and State Highway 79, we knew there was an opportunity to serve workers commuting south to Birmingham and north to Huntsville each day. Ken Grissom of the SBDC at JSU worked closely with us as we made key decisions that would pay dividends for us. Choosing our ultimate location was one that Ken and I worked closely on. We talked throughout 2019 as we prepared to launch in Spring of 2020.”

“Our initial plan was to open a small coffee shop in our hometown. The first challenge we accepted was during our due diligence phase, we determined the rural area would support a shop such as ours. Not only Cleveland, but Blount County and the surrounding area has supported and encouraged us along the way. One of our core beliefs is to deliver outstanding service. There is no way to have known or been prepared to open a new business during the world-wide crisis known as the COVID-19 Pandemic! I am thankful I was unaware of the tremendous odds against success facing our March 21, 2020, opening! Here we were, first time business owners, starting a new shop in a rural location during a world-wide crisis! I am thankful for our loyal customers, dedicated team members, and guidance from the SBDC as we have navigated these treacherous times. We look forward to the days to come as we grow our business.”

When asked about the SBDC at JSU, Kevin Browning said “The assistance has been extremely helpful and allowed me to make better decisions that directly affected our success as a small business.”