Meet Nicole Gregory | Staycation Coffee Owner

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

Hi Nicole, what do you attribute your success to?
Authenticity. I feel we live in a day and age in which authenticity isn’t the easiest to come by. Too often we’re hiding, adjusting ourselves to fit in, taking on identities that make us feel better, projecting lives that aren’t true, covering up struggles or emotions that we are nervous to show, comparing ourselves/companies to others and what’s trending, following the money, making sure we’re palatable, politically correct, big enough or not too big. I believe that my commitment to being authentic to myself and to my vision for Staycation is what has played into my personal and business success.
At the end of the day I ask myself this question- “did you show up well?” and by “well” I’m not denoting a state of being as in being “ok’ all the time but I’m using it as a verb of showing up fully to the moment no matter what state I’m in. To show up fully to every moment allows me the privilege to be able to ask, “what does this moment deserve from me right now” and I do my best to give it. Sometimes the moment is asking for play, sometimes for rest, sometimes for sitting with my sadness or exhaustion and other times it’s asking for brilliant creativity, deep connection into soul and spirit, nurturing of relationships or hours of admin work.
The goal is to continually stay in a place where I am aligned with my NOW and with myself because only then will I continue to naturally flow with what’s FOR me.

As a brand, I believe Staycation has also embodied this as we seek not to win titles of the best coffee in town or the coolest kid on the block but as we pursue building a space that is authentic in all we do and is true to who we are as a team and company.
As a business it’s “what does this moment for Staycation want/need right now” and even though it may not be cool, instagrammable, entertaining, buzz worthy or trendy, we follow that because it’s the only way the brand can have and keep it’s unique voice.

What should our readers know about your business?
Although owning a coffee shop technically falls under owning a business, for me Staycation Coffee is an outpouring of a creative space in which I am allowed to curate the experience that I want our guests to have from the moment they step inside the door to the moment they leave. In between point A and point B is an opportunity that we are challenged to fill and I believe that what sets us apart as a brand is the attention we give to that space because for us, it’s where we bring our artistry, heart and passion to the table. When a customer says “the minute I stepped through these doors I felt happiness” it tells me that the experience we sought to curate was done well and that is truly what brings me the most satisfaction from what I do.

In regards to how I got to where I am today – lots of hard and persistent work, a team that is superb, understanding what I don’t know and finding people who do and in the end, simple perseverance. I don’t know if anything has ever “come easy” for me but I know the basic understanding that in order to enjoy a harvest, you have to plant the seeds and so come rain or shine, I have and will keep planting.

If someone were to ask me what I want the world to know about Staycation the brand, it would be this- we live in a time where the divisions we have created amongst ourselves are at an all-time high, making it increasingly more difficult for organic and authentic conversation and connection to take place and at Staycation, our “why” is to create a space where those divisions are overruled by good coffee, good food and purposeful design that forces you to slow down, fall in tune with your senses and let the organic nature of human connection take place in whatever way it chooses to show up. The most powerful change happens when we as communities unite and we hope that Staycation is always a part of nurturing that unity.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my friend were coming to town…

Coffee: Staycation Coffee 😉 / Cultivar on Peavy /a French Press with my on my patio

Breakfast: John’s Cafe or All Good Cafe (and hopefully it’s a sunny day because I love sitting on the side patio at All Good)

Shopping: Dolly Python or Lula B’s for great vintage finds

Afternoon drinks: Lounge Here, Old Monk or Goodfriend Beer Garden for a beer/cocktail and snacks (on the patio at Goodfriend)

Lunch: Jimmy’s Food Store (their Italian Beef Sandwich is YUM) / TJ’s Seafood Market

White Rock lake for sunset (and pick up a bottle of Cleto Chiarli Vecchia Modena Lambrusco from Jimmy’s)

Dinner: Si Tapas for a nice vibe and food/ Tacos La Banqueta (the original one) for legit tacos / Lakewood Landing for the best homestyle burger and fries / Jeng Chi for stupid good Crispy Tiger Shrimp / Wabi House for decent ramen and just overall fun vibes

Late Night Feels: Balcony Club for martinis and live jazz / It’ll Do for dancing / Cosmo’s for that chill bar feel and late night snacks

Parts of town to explore: Bishop Arts District / Lakewood /Downtown McKinney.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Can I shoutout a few??

I’d like to dedicate my first shoutout to my husband. We got engaged and married smack dab in the middle of me opening the shop and let me tell you, the man was an absolute trooper as I’d come home after 14 hour days cranky, sore and needing support. Sometimes I feel it’s cliche to say “I couldn’t have done this without him” and although I know my talents stand alone, during the season I was in and what it demanded of me, I truly couldn’t have done it without the support system he provided.

Second, I am one of twelve children and the way in which my family has rallied around me during the past two years has been absolutely incredible from helping me hang siding up on the exterior of the cafe, laying tile on the floors to working shifts behind the bar when I needed extra hands. The perks of big family love. 🙂

…and last but absolutely not least, my friend group and team beside me. They have been like fresh air to me every step of the way.

Website: www.staycationtx.com

Instagram: @staycationcoffee

Image Credits
Hillary Bridgman