Two new coffee startup companies are getting their footing in Fresno. Though they’re certainly in their infancy – neither one is open yet – you might be seeing them around Fresno soon. Both are holding online fundraising campaigns to get their start.
First is Rove Wild. You may have seen Cori and Steve Bailey (and their adorable 3-year-old Elik) giving away coffee samples and craft soda during events like Art Hop at Iron Bird last month. The couple moved here from Orange County to raise their son and fell in love with downtown’s Mural District. You can see a video about them and their 100% organic, farmer-owned coffee below.
The couple has a space at Vagabond Lofts facing H Street. But the plumbing and permits needed to turn it into a coffee bar is costing way more than expected. That’s where the Indiegogo fundraising campaign to raise $35,000 comes in. But with less than two weeks left and only $696 raised, the Baileys are getting dose of reality.
If the money isn’t raised, they won’t give up, says Cori Bailey.
“We’re not giving up,” she says. “We’d probably just find a more simplistic approach. Maybe we could just continue to do pop-up events. Maybe we could partner with another business and do a kiosk or a coffee cart.”
They’ve already ruled out the former Kern Street Coffee space (too close to Starbucks) and the Iron Bird Cafe (to big without enough startup cash).
Coffee startup No. 2 is Cold Mountain Coffee Co. Fresno native Ismael Mendoza envisions a coffee cart serving locally roasted espresso, coffee and other drinks alongside food trucks. He would also be a barista for hire at private events.
“What I say is that we’re ready to bring the daily grind to wherever your daily grind is,” he says.
Mendoza is looking for $12,000 to get the cart up and running. His story is in this video.
