David Monis is opening Virginia’s first Classic Rock Coffee. Photos by Michael Thompson
RICHMOND, Va. — A first-time coffee shop owner is taking on the world’s biggest coffee chain with a location near VCU. David Monis plans to open a Classic Rock Coffee franchise at 1322 W. Broad St. on May 1. He has leased 2,450 square feet on the first floor of a three-story apartment building. A former government worker, Monis said his desire to own a business and love of coffee led to his buying into the Missouri-based franchise.
“I used to drink Starbucks,” Monis said. “Since I tried Classic Rock Coffee, I forgot all about the others.”
It might be hard for Monis to forget Starbucks now. The brand has a location 200 feet west of where he plans to open his cafe. Less than a mile in the other direction, there’s another Starbucks at the VCU Barnes and Noble on Broad Street and two more elsewhere on VCU’s Monroe Park campus.
That’s not to mention nearby established independent shops like Alchemy Coffee, Lamplighter Roasting Co., Harrison Street Cafe and Lift.
“If I was thinking about that, I wouldn’t have leased the shop,” Monis said. “There will be a little competition, but that’s good for the market.”
