Brothers Coffee Co. now occupies the space where Sparrow Specialty Coffee used to be, before its owners decided to sell after they were forced to close due to COVID-19.
The new partial owner and manager of Brothers Coffee Co., David Romero, has lived in Manhattan for 10 years and has been a life coach and pastor for over 30 years.
Romero found what he described as “a great opportunity,” when he and business partner, Scott Clark decided to purchase Sparrow. After a month and a half of preparation, the brand-new Brothers Coffee Co. was open for business by Aug. 10.
The name Brothers Coffee Co. was inspired by the friendship between the owners.
“We always say we’re brothers from another mother,” Romero said.
According to the website, Brothers Coffee Co. hopes to “becomes a place of belonging for all, a welcoming hang out full of joy, hope, peace and great food and coffee.”
“We’re not in the coffee business, we’re in the people business,” Romero said.
Romero said he wants their customers to still feel connected, even though they are in an open space and 6 feet apart.
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Brothers Coffee Co. employees Jaetyn Conrad, sophomore in dietetics, and Joy Underwood, freshman in animal sciences and industry, said their experience working there is enjoyable and upbeat.
“David brings that sort of energy that we all feed off of that just makes it a really happy place to be in,” Conrad said.
Brothers Coffee Co. is planning grand re-opening celebration Sept. 11-13, in which they will also honor the first responders that lost their lives on 9/11. The weekend-long event will include specials and hopefully live music, while still maintaining social distancing.
In the future, when things are back to normal Brothers Coffee Co. hopes to have music events as well as community involvement.
