A group of former Lamplighter Coffee Roasters employees have launched Afterglow Coffee Cooperative after they bought their former employer’s cafe and roasting operations at 1719 Summit Ave. (Courtesy of Afterglow Coffee Cooperative)
A group of former Lamplighter employees has flipped the switch on a new venture at what was their ex-employer’s Scott’s Addition location.
Afterglow Coffee Cooperative launched last month at 1719 Summit Ave. after buying Lamplighter Coffee Roasters’ cafe and roasting operations there.
Afterglow didn’t disclose the amount for which the cafe and roasting equipment changed hands, but said the deal was a 60-40 split of cash and a trade of coffee roasting services with Lamplighter. Afterglow roasts and distributes its own coffee brand and also roasts Lamplighter’s brand.
“Afterglow is happy and proud to continue to roast coffee for Lamplighter’s cafe on Addison Street,” co-owner Aimee Maki said in an email this week. She added that the company has several local and regional clients and is looking for more. She said clients range from cafes and bakeries to grocery stores and offices.
Afterglow plans to reopen the cafe at the Summit Avenue location, which Lamplighter closed in the midst of the pandemic. Afterglow also has plans for pop-up events there.
Afterglow’s space is 3,400 square feet. The company has budgeted $10,000 to renovate the cafe portion of the space.
Afterglow is owned by Maki, Julius Delacruz, Allison Maves, Eric Mason and Alan Smith. The group’s members are all former Lamplighter employees.
Maki said the group took a few months to discuss its vision and goals for the venture before reaching out to Lamplighter co-owners Jenn Rawlings and Noelle Forest to see if they would be interested in selling.
“They were very open to the idea and pretty excited to see the five of us, all former or current (at the time) Lamplighter employees come together to try to make a cooperative business plan work,” she said.
Forest didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Lamplighter continues to operate its original cafe at 116 S. Addison St. in the Fan. It closed its cafe at 26 N. Morris St. during the pandemic, and that space is now home to an outpost of Blanchard’s Coffee Roasting Co.
A group of former Lamplighter Coffee Roasters employees have launched Afterglow Coffee Cooperative after they bought their former employer’s cafe and roasting operations at 1719 Summit Ave. (Courtesy of Afterglow Coffee Cooperative)
A group of former Lamplighter employees has flipped the switch on a new venture at what was their ex-employer’s Scott’s Addition location.
Afterglow Coffee Cooperative launched last month at 1719 Summit Ave. after buying Lamplighter Coffee Roasters’ cafe and roasting operations there.
Afterglow didn’t disclose the amount for which the cafe and roasting equipment changed hands, but said the deal was a 60-40 split of cash and a trade of coffee roasting services with Lamplighter. Afterglow roasts and distributes its own coffee brand and also roasts Lamplighter’s brand.
“Afterglow is happy and proud to continue to roast coffee for Lamplighter’s cafe on Addison Street,” co-owner Aimee Maki said in an email this week. She added that the company has several local and regional clients and is looking for more. She said clients range from cafes and bakeries to grocery stores and offices.
Afterglow plans to reopen the cafe at the Summit Avenue location, which Lamplighter closed in the midst of the pandemic. Afterglow also has plans for pop-up events there.
Afterglow’s space is 3,400 square feet. The company has budgeted $10,000 to renovate the cafe portion of the space.
Afterglow is owned by Maki, Julius Delacruz, Allison Maves, Eric Mason and Alan Smith. The group’s members are all former Lamplighter employees.
Maki said the group took a few months to discuss its vision and goals for the venture before reaching out to Lamplighter co-owners Jenn Rawlings and Noelle Forest to see if they would be interested in selling.
“They were very open to the idea and pretty excited to see the five of us, all former or current (at the time) Lamplighter employees come together to try to make a cooperative business plan work,” she said.
Forest didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Lamplighter continues to operate its original cafe at 116 S. Addison St. in the Fan. It closed its cafe at 26 N. Morris St. during the pandemic, and that space is now home to an outpost of Blanchard’s Coffee Roasting Co.
Suggestion: When roasting the “Dark Roast”, actually do that. Because then, it will be dark, and taste like dark roast. You’re welcome.