Summit Coffee featured in Charlotte Business Journal

as published in Charlotte Business Journal by Jennifer Thomas on 8/31/2021

Summit Coffee is expanding its footprint with additional Charlotte-area franchises.

The Davidson coffee concept says it has signed deals to add locations in Charlotte’s Plaza Hills neighborhood, in downtown Mooresville and at a still-to-be-determined site in the Lake Norman area.

Will and Eleanor Funderburg will own the Plaza Hills location, with Michael and Carrie Davis behind the Lake Norman store. Adrian Lineberger owns the Mooresville franchise.

A 1,600-square-foot location is also planned for Piedmont Town Center in SouthPark, which is expected to open by early November.

“I think Summit is pretty keen on bringing specialty coffee and the coffee shop culture and experience to markets that are underserved,” says Brian Helfrich, Summit CEO.

He says the brand’s approachability, menu and quality make it appealing to a wider audience of coffee drinkers. 

Summit got its start in Davidson in 1998. It now has 11 stores open or in development — including five corporate-owned cafés. Summit is actively awarding franchises in Charlotte, Asheville and the Triangle area, plus Charleston, South Carolina, and Atlanta.

"Summit's intent is to build a series of local coffee shops, first around North Carolina and soon in strategic markets around the U.S.," says Andrew Kelleher, chief strategy officer.

Helfrich says the goal is to have as many as 25 locations signed in North Carolina by the end of 2022.

Summit is charging a $29,500 franchise fee that covers consultation and training. The company estimates buildout to cost between $175,000 and $300,000.