ENTERPRISE, Ala. (WDNews) — Coffee Corner in downtown Enterprise was awarded a $10,000 grant as the winner of the inaugural Main Street Enterprise Bright Ideas Pitch Competition, held January 16 at First Methodist Church Enterprise.
Owners Jennie Chancey and Chef Christian Izquierdo pitched plans to create an open-concept kitchen in Coffee Corner to meet the demand for a fresh, locally sourced breakfast and brunch experience at the property located at 106 W. College Street.
Chancey said the business experienced a 54.4% increase in sales from 2021-2022 versus 2023-2024. She attributed the growth to “many factors including a larger space, better positioning on Main Street, and ability to seat more customers and host events.”
“Our overhead is much higher in our larger space, so we need to expand our offerings to thrive rather than just survive,” Chancey said. “Breakfast/brunch is our high-demand window. Our customers have asked for expanded menu options for 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in particular.”
Chef Izquierdo, who began his career as a dishwasher in college and worked his way up through some of the best restaurants in the South, said his dream is to showcase the unique cuisine of South Alabama.
“I always knew food was what I wanted to do,” Izquierdo said. “My dream is to showcase what great food we have here in South Alabama while also pushing our beautiful downtown forward.”
Izquierdo also hopes to gain greater exposure for Enterprise through his contacts at Food Network. “Having a restaurant that can gain national attention will bring food tourists from all over to our slice of paradise,” Izquierdo said. “These tourists will eat, shop, and stay, which is good not only for business but all the downtown business owners.”
The long-term goal for Coffee Corner is to create signature experiences for visitors. According to Chancey, the coffee shop will also function as a book café and a popular hangout spot for all ages. “The signature experiences will feature unique offerings from local farms and suppliers, as well as seasonal and themed events to draw new visitors downtown and keep them coming back,” she said.
Chancey emphasized that customer service has always been a top priority for the business. “Customer service has always been our key focus from day one and we only plan to ramp it up with our new offerings,” she said. “We work hard every day to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere.”
Looking ahead, Chancey shared plans to expand the food prep area and begin making bread in-house. “No one downtown or in Enterprise bakes fresh artisan bread on a daily basis other than cottage bakers, who can only sell direct to customers. We would definitely love to prepare and serve our own signature breads,” she said.
The competition, open to businesses within the designated Main Street district boundaries, awarded smaller grants as well. Sixtel Bottle and Growler House and Style ASAP Boutique each received $1,000 for their participation. Grant funds, provided by Main Street Alabama’s ALSPARK program and the U.S. Small Business Administration, can be used for signage, promotional giveaways, branded packaging, digital advertising, and more.
Coffee Corner will advance to the regional competition for a chance to win up to $35,000 in additional grants.
