Micah’s Coffee was a staple in Waynesboro for nearly 20 years when an accident shut it down in January 2023. Now, two years later, the drive-thru coffee shop is planning a return to the River City with the purchase of land at 1211 West Main St.
Kline’s Dairy Bar, located approximately 200 feet away at 1235 W. Main St., has an espresso bar under construction that should be open in March directly behind the ice cream shop.
Site work on Kline’s Espresso Bar began in early 2024, and the original plan was to open last fall. While there are “coming soon’ signs in the window, owner Kim Arehart told AFP this week that construction has been slow, and they are still working to resolve some electrical issues before they can train employees and open the doors.
“We have equipment in the building at this point, but we’re not able to connect and start practicing,” Arehart said.
She said the delays have been in one word: “frustrating.”
In addition to coffee, the Kline’s Espresso Bar will also feature energy drinks, sodas, smoothies and coffee-inspired ice cream specialties.
When Kline’s opened its dairy bar location in Waynesboro in 2008, it originally offered coffee options but ultimately decided to focus on ice cream.
Arehart told AFP that the vacant lot she owned behind Kline’s was perplexing. She had purchased it for overflow parking but wanted to do something else there too. She also had to be sure that whatever went there didn’t interfere with busy summer nights at the ice cream shop.
“I kept coming back to an early-morning concept,” she said. “Demand and popularity for coffee, beverages and morning foods has grown significantly since I first tried it.”
After two years, Micah’s Coffee plans return to Waynesboro
In December, Micah’s Coffee owners announced through social media that “though we got literally and figuratively knocked down almost two years ago, we are coming back to serve the community we love.”
“This has been an incredibly difficult journey for our family, with uncertainty, frustration and daily battles to restore what was taken from us,” they said. “But this is our home, as the original Waynesboro drive-thru coffee shop, and we weren’t going to give up without a fight.”
Micah’s Coffee closed its location at 1000 West Broad Street after an ambulance driver cut a turn too close when leaving the establishment and “hopped onto the curb and the top of the roof,” according to a media release from the Waynesboro Police Department. “The ambulance continued for another four feet resulting in the building partially coming off the foundation.”
There were no injuries, and the ambulance driver was not charged, according to the release.
The owners announced plans immediately to rebuild but faced multiple challenges, they said on social media, because they rented the location in Waynesboro and could not apply for permits on their own. There were also new zoning requirements for future construction.
“We wish we could just build back what was there. But we can’t,” the update read. “When the building was destroyed, that option vanished. New construction has to follow all new 2023 code, which means it will be much bigger and also more expensive to be up to code.”
While the owners explored options in Waynesboro, they asked customers to visit them in Stuarts Draft.
“We are incredibly sorry for the inconvenience and disruption this has caused you. We truly are. You are the best customers in the world, and we especially look forward to the day that we can personally say that to you when Waynesboro is serving you again.
“We miss our community, we miss our little building, and we miss you. We will be back.”
True to their word, with the purchase of the lot on West Main, the owners are hoping for a quick and smooth building process. Waynesboro property records show the West Main Street lot was purchased by RMC Properties LLC on Sept. 6, 2024, for $145,000.
“Spread the word. We’re back,” they said.
The rush to the finish line
It’s unclear which coffee destination will open its doors or drive-thru first, or if it will matter, since both enterprises seem to have loyal customers.
The coffee locations are both across the street from Waynesboro High School making it the ideal spot for foot traffic both after school and before and after athletic functions.
“Small independent shops like Kline’s add variety and choices for residents,” Arehart told AFP for an article last April. “The more independent shops we have, the more unique our city becomes.”
Micah’s Coffee has locations in Ruckersville, Staunton and Stuarts Draft. The return to Waynesboro will make its fourth location in Virginia. No opening date has been announced.
Kline’s Dairy Bar has seven locations in Virginia in Waynesboro, Staunton, Harrisonburg, Mcgaheysville, Chesterfield and Lynchburg.
Arehart did not provide a comment to AFP when asked about Micah’s return to Waynesboro. An inquiry to Micah’s Coffee by email and through social media for an interview or comment was not returned.
Related stories
Share
Crystal Graham
