Grouchy John’s cheerful about nonmobile site
From a small table at First Friday to a mobile truck that can be found in several spots throughout the valley, Grouchy John’s Coffee has gained a large following in its first year of business.
Business partners John Ynigues and J.J. Wylie hope to grow more by taking the next step, which is opening a brick-and-mortar location at 8520 S. Maryland Parkway in Paradise.
"It’s always been the plan to open a brick-and-mortar," Ynigues said. "We couldn’t go into the store all at once. Now our plan is to open (the store) at the end of February."
Ynigues, who lost his position as a technology manager in 2009, decided to create his own job after talking with the owners at Sunrise Coffee Company. He recruited Wylie, and both men set out to fill a void they believed to see in the community.
"Vegas is a coffee wasteland as it is," Ynigues said. "(The business) is about being able to serve better coffee and educate customers about the coffee."
Wiley said a large part of Grouchy John’s focus is on supporting local businesses, which begins with brewing coffee from Colorado River Coffee Roasters in Boulder City. The men also work with Henderson-based restaurant and bakery Bread & Butter, offering pastries as a complement to their handcrafted lattes, frappes and smoothies.
Issa Khoury, a Grouchy John’s customer and owner of nearby Khoury’s Fine Wine and Spirits, said both businesses work together in promoting each other and establishing a community among customers.
"I have a local business where (Ynigues and Wiley) send their customers, and we like to send as many people (to Grouchy John’s) as possible," Khoury said. "It’s about trying to support good people and local businesses so the money stays in our community."
However, Ynigues said having just the truck limits the business in some ways. With little storage space, Ynigues said the brick-and-mortar site will allow more beverage options and opportunities to expand by adding other items to the menu.
"With the amount of refrigeration we have now, we can’t carry all of the different milks on the trailer," Ynigues said. "With the brick-and-mortar, we’ll have space for those. We’ll also have a more powerful espresso machine. If we want to expand into something like shakes, (the store) gives us more opportunity on what we want to serve."
Ynigues said another challenge he hopes to tackle with the store is keeping the close relationships with customers.
"Since we started at the table, there’s been more separation between the customer," Ynigues said. "(It presents) the idea of losing contact and intimacy, and we’re trying to keep that alive with the store."
Ynigues hopes to hire at least four to six employees to help operate the store and truck. He also wants to continue hosting community events, such as school supply and blood drives, utilizing the mobile side of the business.
The theme overall, Ynigues said, begins with the coffee formula.
"My name is on the business, so I make sure the drinks we’re serving are good," Ynigues said. "It’s all about the coffee."
Contact Paradise/Downtown View reporter Lisa Carter at lcarter@viewnews.com or 383-4686.
