03.26.2008
New Mooresville coffeeshop stands out
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The Three Goats, a new coffeehouse in Mooresville, has only been open a short while, but it’s already recruiting regulars.
“We have a guy that we created a S’Mores latte for,” said Holly Nagel, co-owner of The Three Goats. “He’s been back almost every day, and apparently he told a friend, because she came through the driveway and asked if we knew the guy and his drink, so she could have one!”
Holly and her husband, Courtney, said their goal for the new shop is to make it a place where people want to visit and hang out.
“We moved here from Seattle and we were looking for a little place that wasn’t a franchise to get a great cup of coffee,” Holly said. “This is a growing community, but it’s still small and it’s being taken over by corporations. Since we couldn’t find the place we were looking for, we decided to open it ourselves.”
Their unusual name comes from an Ethiopian legend about a goat herder that let his goats roam in a field where they discovered “berries,” which were actually coffee beans that caused them to dance.
The herder saw this and tried the berries, as did nearby monks, who were able to stay up and pray because they figured out how to brew these “berries,” making the first cup of coffee.
The two designed their coffee shop in the new Harris Teeter shopping center on N.C. Highway 150, to be “homey, comfortable and welcoming,” she said.
“We also tried to keep it as local as possible,” Courtney said. “The art on the walls are from area artists and the baked goods are from La Patisserie and a few other places downtown.”
They said the reason for the local connection was to get to know and become a part of the community.
Another way they are connecting with the area is by offering their services to school fundraisers.
“Half the proceeds made by working with the schools will go to them,” she said. “It’s a great way to give us business and reach out at the same time.”
Courtney and Holly also hope to raise awareness about pit bulls with their special “Nana’s” brew, named after their beloved pet.
“We’re giving the money raised from the sale of that bean to the local animal rescue and for education about pit bulls,” Holly said. “We don’t want to just give money away. We want to be right there and get involved.”
The duo believes one of their main attractions is that their place is unique, right down to the bar.
“We made the bar that you order at out of barn wood from the 1800s,” Holly said. “You can feel our hand in everything that’s here.”
One of the products you won’t find at your local Starbucks is the Eureka Mocha, which is a blend of mocha, cinnamon and a shot of Tabasco sauce.
“We weren’t quite sure about that one, so I put it last on the menu so we could easily erase it, but it’s been really popular,” she added.
They’re adding outdoor seating and tweaking a few other things as the ideas come to them.
“We want to add things one step at a time, rather than do it all at once,” Holly said. “We’d rather do it right.”