Founded in Lake Charles in 2021 and with two locations, Coffee:30 recently announced ambitious plans to franchise locations across the Gulf South. Each of the two current Coffee:30 locations is unique. One offers an elevated cafe experience that serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch. The other is an express drive-through location that serves specialty coffees and a range of flavored beignets.
The company also announced that its cafe location would be moving to a bigger space at 3420 Ryan St. in Lake Charles. When it opens in December, the new spot will introduce a cocktail program and elevated coffee creations.
CEO Joshua Smith recently told What Now New Orleans that franchising was part of the initial plan for Coffee:30. He added that everything from the name to branding to processes has been developed with franchising in mind.
“My wife, Taylor Smith, came up with our name on her 30th birthday,” he said. “She was like, ‘Hey, you know how people say it’s ‘beer-30? It’s time to time to drink a beer? How about Coffee:30? It’s coffee time. And that name kind of stuck.”
“From the branding and the name to everything we do, we make sure it’s duplicatable,” he added. “We ask, ‘Will this work in Houston? Can this process be done in other stores? How easy is it to do?”
Smith said the franchising website for Coffee:30 is set to go live in November. The company is currently scouting franchise locations in Houston.
“Our plan was always to get into the Houston market,” Smith said. “We have some friends who are in the franchise business and have some successful franchises out there.”
“Honestly, I would love to have one in New Orleans. It’s all about getting the right franchisee in place, and making sure it’s in the right location.”
