Five months after Compass Coffee brewed its last pot in a Franklin Tower storefront, the space is once again buzzing with the promise of a caffeine boost. Coffee Republic is moving into the location and aspires to be customer-ready by late summer.
The chain will be fulfilling its mission-”to forge a welcoming and energetic space where coffee meets community, and where each sip comes with a smile”-at 1401 I Street NW. The storefront will provide Coffee Republic with 2,063 square feet of space.
Coffee Republic CEO Sean Flynn generously set aside some time to speak with What Now DC about the cafe’s newest DMV location. He explains that while part of the allure of the space was its previous use as a coffee shop, the storefront’s location proved just as appealing.
“We knew about the Compass acquisition and the performance of that store as we tried to bid on Compass.” he states. “We love that area, it was in close proximity to our other store but far enough away. That area was underserved for coffee, if we look at the number of square blocks between where the metro station is and the next served location.”
Coffee Republic’s upcoming Franklin Tower cafe will continue the brand’s established reputation as a welcoming third space, but it may also prove an opportunity for the brand to expand its appeal to a younger demographic. Flynn says that the storefront might have a kid’s area, though it is not yet a certainty. It is, he explains, the direction the brand plans to move in, saying: “We’re trying to accommodate and become more family friendly.”
Coffee Republic has not nailed down a precise opening date for its Franklin Tower location yet, however DC java enthusiasts won’t have to wait too much longer to enjoy a cup of the chain’s signature brew. Flynn says that the store should be ready to welcome guests between August 25 and September 8.
Coffee Republic is a labor of love that makes it a staple of every neighborhood it enters. The company is a family business that is owned and operated by a husband-and-wife team, ensuring that a personal and human connection exists in every market it enters. Flynn offers a succinct but eloquent summation, saying: “It’s all about community to us; we are so very thankful for everyone’s support as we’ve grown.”
