“We worked hard to revitalize and breathe new life into the older structures, while preserving much of the quirkiness and character of the past,” says Kaity of the massive structures whose original details were highlighted rather than covered up: the exposed brick, the beams and framework, the raw ceilings. Imbued with an artistic feel, their coffee shops seem to have a recipe all their own: a base of contemporary urban atmosphere, blended with the airiness of a greenhouse and a finishing note of modern farmhouse. is anything but the cookie-cutter corporate chain on the corner. With both locations set in heritage buildings from the 1920’s, Fort Smith Coffee Co. Currently, they are expanding into the wholesale world with the intention of being able to offer coffee beans in bulk as a supplier for restaurants and other coffee shops. Other plans for the future include expanding their reach in the River Valley, with additional dine-in locations as well as possible drive-thru kiosks.
“We have hopes to one day travel and source the beans ourselves,” says Kaity. With beans imported from all over the world, from suppliers including Anthem, Cereza, and Optco, they work solely with importers who source the beans ethically and work closely with the coffee farmers. “We do it anytime budget allows-and when it doesn’t, we donate lots of coffee,” Kaity says with a smile. So many awesome things happen over a cup of coffee: first dates, business meetings, study sessions, religious studies, creative brainstorming sessions…It’s a drink that brings people together.”īringing people together and connecting with their community are high priorities for the Goulds, who frequently host shows for local artists, provide a venue for local musicians, and give financially to community organizations in need. Personally, I love the social side of coffee. He takes pride in quality control and serving customers the best possible coffee-based drinks. “He has more of a focus on the science behind it because it’s exciting to discover the flavor profiles that emerge after roasting, depending on where the coffee was grown. “Gabe and I seem to love coffee for different reasons,” Kaity observes. We also want to provide stable, preferably long-term, jobs for as many people as possible.”Īs with all great entrepreneurs, the Goulds are passionate about their product. We focus on offering a quality product, in a welcoming and interesting atmosphere, while providing an engaging customer experience.
“We built everything around that concept, which is why we started gradually, with the goal of creating a brick-and-mortar space. The concept behind the business was simple: “Our foundation is freshly roasted, small-batch coffee,” explains Kaity, who was working at Harvest Time Academy at the time she and Gabe, US Navy veteran, and former employee of Nestle, started selling freshly roasted coffee beans as a side hustle. I was never sure what direction to take that desire in, but it was during our time in Australia that the dream for Fort Smith Coffee Co. “I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, having seen both of my parents being self-employed during different seasons of my childhood. “That was my first exposure to the craft coffee world, which gave me insight and knowledge into the depths of what happens behind the scenes of a successful coffee company,” Kaity explains.
During the year that the couple lived there, Gabe attended a Biblical theology college, while Kaity worked as a barista. The story of their java journey starts off a world away, in Sydney, Australia. From there, they worked their way toward opening their own shop and now the Goulds are the proud owners of two. Roasters of coffee beans for the past seven years, the couple has come quite a long way from the bags of beans that they sold at the local farmer’s market and BrickCity in the early days. It’s also about more than just the drink itself-it’s about the ritual, the appreciation for taking a break from the busy pace of life to sit and talk over a cup as it cools, or even just sitting and letting time pass as you get your bearings, taking in the aroma and letting the strong flavor wash over your tongue and remind you that-in those moments-things can wait.įor Kaity and Gabe Gould, coffee is what drives their day-both literally and metaphorically speaking. From tiny holes in the wall to full-blown meccas of all things coffee, the buzz around this caffeinated brew is more than just hype. Go to any coffee shop around the world, and you won’t just find coffee-you’ll find great conversation and a meeting of the minds.
IMAGES courtesy Anne Marie’s Photo and Video and Katie Driscoll Photography”]
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