Surry Business

Mobys Coffee Company, a Christian coffeehouse operator and franchiser founded less than three years ago in Mount Airy, N.C., is opening new stores this fall in Winston-Salem.

Mobys Coffee also recently announced it will introduce a special “CHRISTmas Blend” on Nov. 13.

The Summit Square store at 193 N. Summit Square Blvd. opened Oct. 17. The Deacon Boulevard store at 619 Deacon Blvd. will open Oct. 24. The Liberty Plaza store at 102 W. Third will open in a few weeks (date to be announced).

The Summit Square and Deacon Boulevard stores both are drive-thru locations. Hours are 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday, 5:30 a.m. to midnight Friday, and 6:30 a.m. to midnight Saturday.

Mobys Coffee also has two stores in Burlington and one each in Summerfield, Walkertown and Conover. The company’s flagship location is at 2123 Rockford St. (the Forest Oaks shopping mall) in Mount Airy.

Mobys Coffee’s next store outside Winston-Salem will be in Hickory. Stores in Virginia and Ohio are being considered.

Brian and Kathy Brady founded Mobys Coffee in December 2004. The two together had about 25 years’ experience in restaurant operations and customer service. Brian had been with Starbucks for about seven years when the couple and their two young children moved from the Los Angeles area to North Carolina so Brian could manage a Starbucks in Winston-Salem. After he unexpectedly lost that job, a friend suggested that the couple combine their knowledge of coffee with a ministry.

The Bradys started Mobys Coffee inside Pages Bookstore on Main Street in Mount Airy. Needing more space, they moved to the Forest Oaks strip mall location. There the store’s combination of “coffee, pastries, music and more” — Mobys’ slogan is “heavenly grounds for your daily grind” — attracts upwards of 100 people on Friday and Saturday nights when Mobys provides live entertainment.

Mobys Coffee Company is at the forefront of growth in a sales category known as “Christian retailing.”

“Christian coffeehouses like Mobys are popping up across the country,” writes Winston-Salem Journal reporter Sherry Youngquist. “Perhaps it’s not surprising that the evangelical movement and our caffeine-fueled society have found common ground. The Bradys and other Christian retailers are tapping into the increasing popularity of the marketplace as ministry — and a market that generates about $4.5 billion a year in sales.”

Andy Butcher of “Christian Retailing” magazine explains, “What makes us distinctive? It’s that safe environment…. It’s not just a place to buy, but a place to be. (Customers) are going to these places as much for relaxation as retail.”

For their part, Kathy and Brian Brady say, “We do not believe we are in the coffee business, we are in the people business…. Our sole focus is to represent what a Christian business and Christian owners can be when they are focused on delivering God’s plan.”

Mobys Coffee’s corporate offfice is at 1326 N. Main St., Mount Airy, NC 27030, telephone (336) 786-1500 or fax (336) 786-4711. The corporate office manager is Katrina Evans.

For franchise information, you can download the company’s informational brochure here.

Mobys Coffee also operates a mobile coffee service. Visit the company’s web site for more information.