Inside the new Northshore Specialty Coffee bar in Jackson, Mississippi. All images courtesy of Northshore Specialty Coffee.
In Jackson, Mississippi, Northshore Specialty Coffee is growing in waves with the opening of its new 13,000-square-foot production roastery, plus its first brick-and-mortar cafe.
Freshly roasted coffees from a new Loring S35 roaster are now making their way just a few blocks to The District at Eastover, where the new cafe just soft-opened. The inaugural coffee shop leans into automated brewing systems and a retro-futuristic maritime theme.
“This was the first time that we got to brand a retail space after our coffee brand, so we decided to go all the way with a creative theme we call ‘RetroTiki,'” Harry Fontenoy, director of innovation and quality for Northshore Specialty, told Daily Coffee News.
Framed nautical paintings and maps fill a red wall, while an adjacent white wall is the backdrop for Northshore’s red-and-white, three-dimensional submarine logo. Beneath the logo, a series of lantern-like glass and brass sconces warm the plant-filled 1,450-square-foot cafe.
“Think The Jetsons meet your favorite Tiki bar,” said Fontenoy. “Our goal was to take this vibe that we at Northshore feel every day and give it a physical home where our people can swing by and feel it too.”
NotNeutral Vero glassware in Ocean Blue matches the color of the bar, behind which an Eversys Cameo generates espresso, and an xBloom Studio handles single-cup pourovers.
“I think that we found a super cool middle ground between automation and craft drink building that works really well in this cafe,” said Fontenoy. “The xBloom allows premium filter offerings that would usually eat up a lot of a barista’s time and focus. The Eversys automation helps more baristas have the freedom to really connect with our customers. There’s something super satisfying about meshing that ‘push of a button’ efficiency with attention to detail and presentation.”
The new Northshore roastery in Jackson.
Northshore Specialty Coffee first presented itself to Jackson in 2022 as a creation of parent company Haven Holdings, founded by entrepreneurs Trey Malone, Justin Fontenoy and Stephanie Fontenoy.
The company began roasting Diedrich IR-12 machine inside a former Lucky Town Brewing Company space in Midtown Jackson before expanding operations with an additional Diedrich machine on site at Haven Coffee + Cocktails, about two hours south in Covington, Louisiana.
Haven Coffee + Cocktails in Covington, Louisiana.
Originally intended to serve as the company’s upscale retail brand, Haven showcases roasting equipment from behind the wraparound marble bar. The Covington roasting operation continues today under the watch of Harry Fontenoy — the son of Justine and Stephanie — and fellow roaster José Muñoz Vega.
Meanwhile, Northshore Specialty Coffee Head Roaster and Green Buyer Robert Akin leads the charge at the new roastery in Jackson.
Said Harry Fontenoy, “It just so happened that having a facility in both locations gave us a better reach into our surrounding communities, so we rolled with it.”
At the new cafe in Jackson, a covered seating next to the outdoor walkway appeals to shoppers passing by, while The District’s common outdoor area with a fountain and playground are nearby.
A 12-tap kegerator system, plus beers from nearby breweries such as Key City Brewing Co. and Fertile Ground Beer Co. provide lots of cold drink options. Fertile Ground is also Northshore’s partner in the upcoming Cultivate Coffee Project, currently under construction in Jackson, which will bring a coffee shop and beer hall together in one family-friendly place.
In the meantime, as Northshore settles into the roastery, the company plans to forge more direct connections with coffee producers.
“We’re looking to get back to origin as quickly as we can this year to keep working at developing direct trade relationships,” said Fontenoy. “Between our cafes and the exciting retail offerings we’re now working with, we’re pumped to continue telling the stories of these producers and the wonderful flavors they’re cultivating.”
Northshore Specialty Coffee at The District at Eastover is located at 120 District Blvd E, Suite D103 in Jackson, Mississippi. Comments? Questions? News to share? Contact DCN’s editors here. For all the latest coffee industry news, subscribe to the DCN newsletter.
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Howard Bryman
Howard Bryman is the associate editor of Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine. He is based in Portland, Oregon.
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