In this second part of our 2 part Founder Friday we switch gears with Doug Zell, founder of the iconic coffee company Intelligentsia Coffee. In the years that followed the acquisition of Intelligentsia, Doug entered into a new era of creativity related to food, coffee, and his passion for cycling. With his friend and fellow cycling enthusiast Chris St. Peter, they founded the Meteor.
The vision began with a desire to create a beautiful environment that combines all the things they love under one roof: delicious ingredient-driven food, thoughtfully chosen wine, carefully prepared coffee, and, bicycles. The hope is to build a community that enjoyed these same pursuits. Their motto? – Espresso | Champagne | Chain Lube
In this episode we focus on the this new venture, how it came to be, the challenges of a multifaceted concept, the lessons and wisdom earned from 20 years of coffee leadership, and how that, plus the same spirit to innovated and create, has helped the Meteor Succeed.
We discuss:
- The chance meeting and common interests that started The Meteor
- Building a team of great people who understand different aspects of the business
- Keeping the menu and offerings tight and well-executed
- Why opening a coffee bar with just coffee and pastries may be challenging in today’s competitive market.
- How creating a sense of community and connection is a rewarding aspect of running a multifaceted concept.
- Looking to the future of coffee shops and advise for those entering in to the market.
Links:
Related Episode:
- 448: Founder Friday! Part 1 “Switching Gears” | w/ Doug Zell of Intelligentsia and The Meteor!
- 387 : Innovation and Building a Better Coffee Business w/ Miranda Caldwell
- 179 : What you MUST Know About Employee Culture w/ Stan Slap
- 179 : What you MUST Know About Employee Culture w/ Stan Slap
- 329 : How to Teach Company Values to Your Staff
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