NORFOLK, Va. - For those who need their morning fix of coffee but might not have any, then Cure Coffeehouse – located on 503 Botetourt Street in the Freemason section of Norfolk -- has that cure.
Chris Shelton is one of the co-founders of the coffeehouse.
"Cure Coffeehouse is all about community,” Shelton told News 3. “Both my business partners and myself were working full-time jobs that required a lot of caffeine and we thought, well if we're going to be spending that money anyway let's turn it into a business."
In the 10 years Cure Coffeehouse has been in business, they were met with hard moments including their awning collapsing and a fire caused by a cigarette. Then the coronavirus pandemic also impacted them in 2020.
"We were fully staffed and sales were down easily 70 percent those first several weeks,” Shelton explained.
They received financial help for small business from the federal government, have adapted to outdoor seating and online ordering. Customers still walk in through the door each morning.
"If not for that we probably wouldn't be here,” Shelton said.
The store also serves more than just coffee. They also have a menu of sandwiches and other dishes, made fresh by head chef Alan DiLaura. Some of the recipes, he told News 3, are his.
"We try to source locally as much as possible,” DiLaura said, “but we try to make it comfortable and good food for people to have."
They also offer courses to be a barista through their partner company and coffee supplier. Kari Austin, Cure Coffeehouse’s creative director says it teaches them the skills needed to be a barista there or any other coffeehouse.
"Especially if you enjoy coffee, you enjoy being with people in the community-kind of atmosphere,” Austin said. "It's really fun for everyone to get their hands on it and be able to have something they can call back onto."
They also have bags of their coffee for sale. The store also serves beers and wines produced locally.
Cure Coffeehouse has a second store in Smithfield located at 113 North Church Street. The stores open at 7 a.m., Monday through Friday; and 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Close times vary between stores and days.
More information on Cure Coffeehouse including their offerings can be found on Cure Coffeehouse’s website.
