NORFOLK, Va. — His grandfather came over from Greece and was looking to get to work, Chris Stephanitsis said.
The year was 1918. Stephanitsis’ grandfather, Frank, started roasting coffee and selling it from a cart.
“They were roasting it fresh and going door to door trying to sell, and it just kept picking up,” said Chris, co-owner of the Norfolk Coffee & Tea Co.
Watch related: Tariffs add pressure to already rising coffee prices
Stephanitsis beams with pride talking about his grandfather and his father, Jerry, who brought him into the business at age 13. He tells me the secret to the business thriving for more than 100 years is something his grandfather taught him.
“Treat the customer right, give them the best product that you can at a reasonable price,” says Stephanitsis.
And that philosophy has customers driving out of their way to get a fresh bag of roasted beans, like this gentleman who drives in from Chesapeake.
“The best dark coffee I’ve ever had. It's all I use,” said one long time customer.
Watch related: ODU launches signature coffee blend
“I really love the blends. It's just good quality coffee, and at that price point, you can’t beat it,” said another enthusiastic customer.
Around $10 a pound, roasted fresh daily in the same gas-fired roaster his grandfather used in those early days.
While walk-in business is steady, thousands of pounds of brew are shipped to more than 300 local businesses.
You can tell by looking around this age-old coffee shop that community and coffee go hand in hand.
Watch related: Local artist turns coffee spills into art
“We give back to the community to show our appreciation for what they’ve done for us,” he said. “We’ve done things for the Food Bank, St. Jude’s, the Peter Decker charities, the hospitals, and King Daughters,” said Stephanitsis.
And if you haven’t seen Chris’ wall of fame, it's worth a trip to the shop. You might even see some familiar local faces. (Barbara Ciara’s pic)
The Norfolk Coffee and Tea Company and the Stephanitsis family are serving up a warm cup of brew with a dash of familiar nostalgia that is positively Hampton Roads.
