Summerville’s Rustic Muffin welcomes new owner Tom Leggett, marking a fresh chapter for the local favorite.
Leggett, an active-duty Coast Guard member for 25 years, told What Now Charleston he is planning to retire from the military this summer and he wanted to “branch out and do something I could call my own.”
His interest in owning a coffee shop began after visiting a cafe south of Summerville run by a military widow. He said the idea appealed to him because it “seemed low stress and fun.”
After research, Leggett discovered Rustic Muffin was for sale and contacted the broker.
“The next day, I drove up here, 45 minutes from my house, on a whim. I came in, ordered a sandwich and coffee, sat down to be a ‘secret shopper,’ and just watched to see if it’s something I want to pursue,” Leggett said.
He continued, “I watched how the staff worked, how they handled customers. The drive-thru was busy. The store was busy. I was like, ‘That’s a good sign.’ It was kind of love at first sight.”
After his visit, he submitted an offer, and the deal closed in his favor in February.
Leggett retained the entire staff, stating, “There’s a good foundation that’s already built. They do so much and are so great, they are the true stars of this business.”
He plans to make gradual changes over time, starting with refining the menu. The current menu includes breakfast sandwich classics, New York-style bagels with cream cheese, and sides like hash browns, egg bites and the famed “softball-sized” muffins.
“The previous owners are from Connecticut. They had their own Northeast touch. I’m not from that area, so the names might change as I add my own touch,” he said. “Some of the sandwiches I came up with have a bit more Charleston influence, with pimento cheese, bacon jam and hot honey.”
Leggett said every month, Rustic Muffin will feature a “sandwich of the month” he and his team collaborated on. If it’s well received, it could earn a spot on the permanent menu.
“My job is to make sure that people get what they’re asking for. We’re turning this into a very customer-focused, community-focused business, making sure it’s affordable too,” he said.
He also plans to upgrade the shop’s equipment and introduce a new loyalty program called the Challenge Coin. In the military, a challenge coin is a medallion representing a unit, branch or achievement.
“Challenge coins are a big thing in the military. I designed one for the store. On the front is the store’s logo, and on the back it’s a muffin, coffee bean and American flag,” Leggett said.
Under the program, customers buy the coin for $40 and can enjoy a free cup of hot or iced coffee every Tuesday.
Leggett, with the help of his team, is looking forward not only to his next adventure but also to Rustic Muffin’s.
“I really enjoy talking to people as they come in. I think that part, and the ability to influence the staff here, they can look back on this time and say, ‘That was a really good experience.’ I’m not saying I’m a great leader, I don’t think I’m a bad one, but I think I can influence them, and they can go on to do great things,” he said.
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