Today we’d like to introduce you to Candice Pritz.
Hi Candice, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My husband, Zach, worked for his brother’s start-up (at the time) coffee shop in Florida when he was in high school/early college. At the beginning of our marriage, he had opportunities to work for multiple coffee shops in Ann Arbor, MI. Each coffee shop he worked at was at a different growth point, so he was able to learn “the ins and outs” of the coffee world and business on many levels. When he was a barista at Roos Roast Coffee, John Roos offered him the opportunity to learn to roast. He fell in love!
We knew eventually, we would move back to Hendersonville to raise kids and be closer to family. When that time came, he bought a roaster off of Craiglist, and we loaded it up in a moving truck with the little bit of belongings we had and headed south. We quit our jobs and just chose to go for it. We set our 4 lb. roaster up in my parent’s garage to get some samples going before we found a home for “Rosie.” The first week we moved back, we learned that an Asheville Coffee Expo would be happening, and we knew it was essential for us to go. With two weeks to get a logo, a presentable bag for our beans, and dial in some roasts, we could attend this expo, which many of the best specialty coffee roasters in the region attended. It was incredible — we even finished 2nd place in the people’s choice! From there, we found a restaurant (Mi Amore Cafe) in Hendersonville that allowed us to roast in their space after hours. Zach would roast at 10 p.m. or later, into the wee hours of the morning. Soon after, a long-time family friend, Laurie Bakke, approached me and offered us the incredible opportunity to move into her business, Sage Gourmet, and set up our roaster on Main Street, Hendersonville. She sold her business to Merit Wolff (now Wine Sage Gourmet), and Merit was a great partner to us in sharing her space and helping us gain exposure.
Production and wholesale were picking up for us, and we were cranking that roaster around the clock. We knew it was time to get more elbow room, give Merit her retail space back, and buy a bigger machine. Another long-time family friend, Alan Ward (owner of Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards/Appalachian Ridge), offered us the downstairs of his cider barn. We were grateful, thrilled, relieved! We purchased the bigger roaster, moved in, and helped outfit and start The Wildcat Brothers espresso bar. This was a way for us to serve our customers brewed ShareWell Coffee for the first time. We would also open on Saturdays and get local pastries popping out there. This larger space and partnership with Alan also allowed us to host tastings, coffee education, and community classes. After almost five years of roasting, it came to a point where we needed our own space. Alan offered us his tasting room location in Flat Rock; we have never looked back. We moved into ShareWell Coffee Co. & Roaster in Flat Rock in February 2022, which has been the most significant move. This move allows for the full expression of ShareWell. We have special events, community classes, coffee education, a bigger space for production, and an espresso bar specializing in “slow coffee,” i.e., pour-overs, Aeropress, etc. We focus on providing customers with approachability to specialty coffee from our Mad Mountain Mama, Carolina Bloom Shine, and Woah Nelle! blends to our elite single origins and some limited releases for our more serious coffee clientele.
We also have a full kitchen where we make our own baked goods and specialty food items in-house. The space has a beautiful covered patio and intimate seating arrangements upstairs and downstairs. We just celebrated our 2nd anniversary there this month, and the community of Flat Rock has been so good to us. Also, this month, we had a surprise blessing proposed to us. Wholesale partner Hidden Trails Coffeehouse will become our second location: ShareWell Coffeehouse in Horse Shoe, NC.
The previous owner, Mei-ling, opened Hidden Trails a few years ago and consulted Zach for equipment and training. Of course, she brewed ShareWell Coffee. She has built a gem of a spot- her customers love her, and she provides excellent customer service. She is ready for some life changes and approached us to “take on” the spot as our own. So, this Spring, we are excited to be doing just that. This location will be very family-friendly, with a goat farm in the back, picnic tables and outdoor seating, and access to the Ecusta trail, a particular spot. We are so grateful for the past 7 years and what will happen from here!
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
As a more calculated person, I was not thrilled about starting our own business. I told Zach that if he wanted to do this, we would not go into debt for it. We were newly married, and he was finishing his college degree online when we quit our jobs and started this venture. We have worked full-time jobs over these 7 years and have tried to be wise with sharing spaces and adaptable when opportunities present themselves. We have learned the art of pivoting while keeping the ShareWell vision — our timelines have changed due to unexpected opportunities. It’s a balancing act sometimes. There is a lot of give and take as business partners and spouses. Not to mention, we have had two kids through this process! We stay busy, you can say. But truthfully, we have the most incredible support system. The generosity of so many folks has brought us where we are today — too many names to list.
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us more about your business.
Established 2016 Specialty Coffee Roaster in Flat Rock, NC.
Wholesale, Retail, Coffee Education and Consulting, Catering, and Two Espresso Bars. Full story: https://www.flatrocktogether.com/good-news/sharing-their-dream
We specialize in roasting excellent coffee and take great pride in our sourcing: purity, quality, and integrity. We allow our team of coffee professionals and baristas to explore and achieve their own goals and growth within the business. We even helped one of our baristas launch her coffee cart! We believe in excellent customer service, kindness, and Zingerman’s inspired approach!
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
“What you do well — do, what you don’t do well, don’t do.” It’s essential to be an expert in your area — not to try to be all things to all people. Also — grit. You have to be tough. Starting a business isn’t for the weak of spirit. We are and want to continue to aspire to source, roast, and serve excellent coffee. Our mission as a team of coffee professionals is to positively impact everyone we serve by creating a product and experience that exceeds their expectations in quality and service.
Pricing:
- Bags range $18-22 right now online!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sharewellcoffee.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/sharewellcoffee
- Facebook: facebook.com/sharewellcoffee
Image Credits
Kim Kilgore, Tim Robison
