Interview: Village Coffee’s Tommy Lowery

Published by info September 21st, 2007 in VILLAGE COFFEE

Tommy Lowery, President of Village Coffee, discusses why he’s licensing - not franchising - his coffeehouse concept.

According to Tommy Lowery, Village Coffee’s licensing program is designed for individuals who want to open a turnkey gourmet, community coffee shop without the high costs and restrictions of a traditional franchise. The Village Coffee license program is designed to provide more freedom, lower costs and a strong community marketing philosophy to help individuals build a business they can be proud to own.

FranBest recently chatted with Village Coffee President Tommy Lowrey

FranBest: Tommy, how did you first get involved in the coffee business?
TL: I have always enjoyed coffee. Morning devotions and a cup of coffee is a God send. I tinkered around with a small roaster and green beans and began roasting my own blends some years ago. I was operating several seasonal businesses, and when I began looking for something that would provide steadier revenue, coffee was a natural choice.

FranBest: What did you do in your prior life?
TL: I spent 20 years in management, developing systems first for the Air Force and then for a series of businesses I started. In 2000, I launched out and opened my first business, then a second. After that, we opened our 3 coffee shops. Now we are helping others to use our efficient business systems to achieve success in their own businesses.

FranBest: How do you describe the Village Coffee license concept?
TL: Village Coffee is founded on a passion for coffee. We use the world’s highest quality coffee beans, expertly roasted and diligently brewed to create a variety of gourmet espressos and coffee blends. But Village Coffee is just as much about community as it is about coffee. The inspiration for our name was, in part, the village square that used to be the central gathering place in most small towns across America. The village square was a place where neighbors would gather to socialize, exchange ideas, debate current issues or just be together. And while few towns still have lively village squares, Village Coffee shops are filling the void, providing a warm friendly, gathering spot where neighbors, friends and family can enjoy a warm welcome, hot drinks, and pleasant company.