Pertinacious Coffee, a Charlotte-based specialty coffee business founded by 23-year-old entrepreneur Emma Layman, is preparing to open its first standalone café in January 2027 at 1700 Abbey Pl. in Montford. The approximately 700-square-foot space will be located within the new Centro Montford apartment development near Park Road Shopping Center, Axios Charlotte reported in an Instagram post. Speaking with WhatNow Charlotte, Layman confirmed that the business is targeting a mid-to-late January opening.
While the Montford café will be the brand’s first fully independent brick-and-mortar location, Pertinacious already has a physical presence in Charlotte. The business operates a coffee bar inside The Club, a fitness studio in South End. Layman explained to WhatNow Charlotte that the existing operation will remain in place after the new café opens. “This will be our very first fully built-out brick-and-mortar space on our own,” she said.
Axios Charlotte reported that Layman launched Pertinacious in 2024, initially operating through a mobile coffee cart before developing a following among local customers. The business later expanded into The Club NC, giving it an opportunity to reach customers within the South End community. The Montford opening will add a dedicated storefront to that existing operation.
The new café will offer more than a place to pick up specialty coffee. During her conversation with WhatNow Charlotte, Layman described a space designed to accommodate customers who want to spend time at the café, whether enjoying a drink or getting some work done. Plans include an outdoor patio where customers can sit and work, as well as several indoor tables.
Food will also play a larger role in the new location. Axios Charlotte reported that the approximately 700-square-foot café will expand beyond the brand’s signature coffee drinks with a selection that includes overnight oats, chia seed pudding and artisan-style sandwiches. The additional offerings will give customers options for breakfast and lighter meals alongside the specialty coffee menu.
Layman also discussed the food and beverage offering with WhatNow Charlotte, highlighting artisan-style sandwiches and high-quality coffee beverages as part of the customer experience. The combination of an expanded food selection, specialty drinks and seating options will give the Montford café a broader role as a neighborhood gathering and working space.
For Layman, the standalone café represents an opportunity to take the business in a new direction creatively while developing a space that reflects the identity she has built around Pertinacious. Speaking about the milestone, she told WhatNow Charlotte, “We’ve been in business for almost three years, and this is our first opportunity to fully express our brand.” The dedicated space will give the business greater room to establish its own atmosphere and customer experience beyond the existing coffee bar format.
With the South End coffee bar continuing to operate, the Montford café will represent another step in Pertinacious Coffee’s development within Charlotte.
