GREENE COUNTY
Coffee is the next best thing to many who wake up to its intoxicating aromas and delight in its caffeine infusion when consumed. Downtown Greensboro is now home to a new coffee shop that both downtown merchants and visitors are frequenting. Opened Christmas Eve, Bonnie’s Coffee Shop has a captivating hold on those who just want a good and fresh cup of coffee in historic downtown Greensboro.
Proud business owner Bonnie Martinez has often visited local coffee shops while shopping. Whether it be coffee, hot chocolate or juice, she would enjoy getting to know the proprietors. She would take those opportunities to share ideas while out shopping and visiting with her family. It was during these many visits she got interested in opening her own shop.
“Many of these visits and conversations I had were instrumental in helping me confirm that I wanted a similar business,” she said. “This was a first for me and I am happy I was able to do it right here in Greensboro.”
A native of the area, Martinez started the process for the coffee shop in April of last year. She found it a challenge as most of the readiness and completion came from Clarke County in Athens.
Despite that, she is thrilled she was able to bring a popular business concept to fruition in Greensboro. Judging from the customer traffic she has received, Bonnie’s Coffee Shop will be a much welcomed addition.
Martinez claims here favorite beverage has always been coffee and she most often enjoyed it with her Grandmother. She sources her beans through a distributor in Madison, who also helped her with staff training and providing tips to produce and pour the best coffee around.
As a first-time business owner, Martinez wanted to bring something that was needed here in downtown Greensboro. Many residents expressed a wish to have a familiar coffee shop open. She recognized the need, put together a plan and secured the necessary steps to open.
“Our little downtown has so much potential,” she said. “There is so much potential for growth and things our city needs. I am just happy I brought the coffee shop here and became a part of that process of growing the businesses here.”
Martinez credits her mother with instilling her drive and success in this first business venture.
She was a young, single mother herself, and her mother encouraged her to go back to school to obtain her degrees and foster an interest in business administration. She went on to manage several businesses throughout her young career, but a coffeeshop was on her radar.
She is a mother to three children, ages ranging from 19 to 14. All three children have been brought into the businesses and help throughout the week. She is planning on being open seven days a week and offers pastries, other beverages and packaged sandwiches.