We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily Casey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Our business was developed out of both a passion for specialty coffee and a need within our community. We knew we had a deep love for the product we would sell, but we also took note of the lack of gathering places in our hometown; we realized that we could combine these two components with the creation of Neighbors Coffee. While we have loved specialty coffee for a long time and would dream of our own place to serve it some day, the idea of Neighbors specifically came as our city created incentives for downtown renovation and encouraged new businesses to take root. This was the nudge we needed to make our hobby a business and take something that had always been individual to us and make it communal. We recognized we could take our knowledge of specialty coffee and use that as a way to create a place that people could come and enjoy – both things that were seriously lacking at the time in our small east Texas town. From a combination of gifting, passion, and a untapped market, Neighbors Coffee was born.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Neighbors Coffee is a coffee shop that serves coffee, tea, pastries, lemonades, and more in downtown Jacksonville, Texas. While I believe we provide the best product in East Texas, the thing that sets us apart is atmosphere we have cultivated. We pride ourselves in being a family-friendly coffee shop, something that goes against the grain of many other coffee shops and businesses in general. Our shop offers a low-key, fun vibe, including a section of toys and books for little ones and a weekly story time session for kids of all ages. We are proud to be the place for business meetings, date nights, celebratory events, and everything in between. While we have had our fair share of hiccups and learning curves in our first year of operation, we have been blessed with the absolute best customers and have had an outpouring of support that has made it the best first year we could’ve dreamed up. We’ve learned a lot, especially the importance of sticking to our core values and staying true to our brand and vision. We are so thankful for all we’ve encountered and can’t wait for all that is to come next!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Of course, stop number one should be Neighbors Coffee 🙂 But once you have your coffee fix, there’s some great spots and restaurants to hit. If the weather is good, Love’s Lookout will provide some beautiful views and opportunities to walk and ride bikes. My favorite restaurants are Commerce Street Drafthouse, JW’s Barbecue, and Sadler’s.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Jacksonville Economic Development Corporation (JEDCO) helped take what was just a dream and make it a reality. Their belief in the growth potential of our community is what paved the way for us to come in and open our new business. Without them, the vision and finances for downtown renovation projects would not have been possible!

Website: neighborscoffeetx.com

Instagram: @neighborscoffeetx

Facebook: @neighborscoffeetx

Image Credits
Fleeting & Co Taylor Autumn Photography

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