By Mitch Holt, Copy Editor
During the summer, the north side of Abilene received a whirlwind of renovations, adding several new businesses to the area around ACU including Chili’s, GameStop and Monks Coffeeshop.
All three businesses were added to the city during the summer months, and all three businesses are making solid profits, especially as the fall semester begins.
Curtis Johnson, general manager at Chili’s on Highway 351 near campus, said business has been going well since the store’s May 18 opening, and he’s pleased with the location of the store. He said he’s glad college students are back in town and hopes for an increase in sales during the school year.
“This location is an up-and-coming area, and we’re right in the middle of it,” Johnson said. “The business developments in the area contribute to good sales for our store. We’re glad to be here.”
Monks Coffeeshop, located at Cypress and North Third Street downtown, has been open since Aug. 10, and store manager Jeff Bryant thinks business will pick up when students realize it’s there.
“Business has been going better than we expected from the start,” Bryant said. “We’ve noticed more college students downtown. It’s just going to get better from here.”
The Monks Web site says the mission of the store is to promote reflection and fellowship within the business of selling coffee. The mission statement states that they “love the idea of setting one’s self apart for reflection, prayer and discipline for a season, if not a lifetime.”
Monks chose to serve Highland Coffee after several coffee-tasting sessions. Bryant said the staff spent time finding a coffee vendor that was right for the store. Highland is more of a mom-and-pop company, which is what Monks’ founders were going for, Bryant said.
The store is located across the street from The Leaf and McKay’s Bakery, and it serves an assortment of pastries, coffee, tea, smoothies, energy drinks and espresso drinks. Monks recently pressed its catchy “Keep Abilene Boring” T-shirts, modeled after the infamous “Keep Austin Weird” T-shirts. Monks shirts can be purchased at the store.
The staff hopes to promote fellowship and friendship while providing a comfortable atmosphere for customers, Bryant said.
