Bright Spot Coffee plans to open this summer a few doors down from Final Gravity Brewing Co. (Photos by Mike Platania)
It turns out Lakeside is getting a double shot of coffee shops this summer.
Bright Spot Coffee, run by Outer Banks native Eli Thompson, is planning to open a cafe and roastery at 6114 Lakeside Ave., a few doors down from Final Gravity Brewing Co.
Thompson started Bright Spot last spring, roasting beans in his father-in-law’s garage in Amelia County.
“I was on a tiny little roaster that did one pound at a time,” Thompson said. “I got started learning, and it grew and it’s worked out.”
Bright Spot since has picked up about 15 wholesale accounts throughout the region, with Perk Bon Air being the first to sign up and Ginger Juice’s Midlothian location being one of the most recent.
The space will be split between Bright Spot’s roasting operation and a cafe.
Thompson said the company since has upgraded its roaster and is bringing the operation to Lakeside Towne Center.
Bright Spot’s 1,500-square-foot space will be split evenly between the roasting operation and the coffee shop. Thompson said he’s talking to contractors for the buildout, as he hopes to start the roasting operation in May and open the shop side in late summer.
Bright Spot won’t have any food production in-house, though Thompson said they are looking to offer baked goods from other local vendors such as Gnarly Girls Baking Co.
The project’s cost was not disclosed, though Bright Spot has launched a Kickstarter looking to raise $25,000 to help fund the buildout. Thompson said that’s a small portion of what the buildout will cost.
“We launched Kickstarter more as a way to have the community to feel like they’re involved in making it happen,” he said.
Thompson added that if they do not reach their goal by the May 14 deadline, Bright Spot will return the money. As of press time, Bright Spot has raised about $2,700.
Bright Spot would be the second new coffee-related business to open in Lakeside this year.
Food truck Pulp Fiction RVA is preparing to open a cafe at 5411 Lakeside Ave. that will offer coffee, smoothies, bagels and other to-go foods out of the space that most recently was occupied by Early Bird Biscuit Co.
Bright Spot Coffee plans to open this summer a few doors down from Final Gravity Brewing Co. (Photos by Mike Platania)
It turns out Lakeside is getting a double shot of coffee shops this summer.
Bright Spot Coffee, run by Outer Banks native Eli Thompson, is planning to open a cafe and roastery at 6114 Lakeside Ave., a few doors down from Final Gravity Brewing Co.
Thompson started Bright Spot last spring, roasting beans in his father-in-law’s garage in Amelia County.
“I was on a tiny little roaster that did one pound at a time,” Thompson said. “I got started learning, and it grew and it’s worked out.”
Bright Spot since has picked up about 15 wholesale accounts throughout the region, with Perk Bon Air being the first to sign up and Ginger Juice’s Midlothian location being one of the most recent.
The space will be split between Bright Spot’s roasting operation and a cafe.
Thompson said the company since has upgraded its roaster and is bringing the operation to Lakeside Towne Center.
Bright Spot’s 1,500-square-foot space will be split evenly between the roasting operation and the coffee shop. Thompson said he’s talking to contractors for the buildout, as he hopes to start the roasting operation in May and open the shop side in late summer.
Bright Spot won’t have any food production in-house, though Thompson said they are looking to offer baked goods from other local vendors such as Gnarly Girls Baking Co.
The project’s cost was not disclosed, though Bright Spot has launched a Kickstarter looking to raise $25,000 to help fund the buildout. Thompson said that’s a small portion of what the buildout will cost.
“We launched Kickstarter more as a way to have the community to feel like they’re involved in making it happen,” he said.
Thompson added that if they do not reach their goal by the May 14 deadline, Bright Spot will return the money. As of press time, Bright Spot has raised about $2,700.
Bright Spot would be the second new coffee-related business to open in Lakeside this year.
Food truck Pulp Fiction RVA is preparing to open a cafe at 5411 Lakeside Ave. that will offer coffee, smoothies, bagels and other to-go foods out of the space that most recently was occupied by Early Bird Biscuit Co.