Just when you think there is surely not any more space for another coffee shop in town, two new ones pop up. We stopped at All Rise Coffee Court, the new kid on the block when it comes to coffee shops in Potchefstroom, and spoke with the owner, Chris van Heerden, to get some insight and a 'behind the scenes' look into this new coffee court.
What inspired you to start this coffee shop?
I wanted to create an employment opportunity for my mother. About a year ago my parents went through an armed robbery at their house in Schweizer-Reneke, which is quite far from us, so it is my way of building something that would enable me to move them closer to my brother and I. At this stage in my mother's life, finding employment proves to be challenging since the job market focuses on young people. So I decided to start and build the coffee café as a retirement gift to her, something that would sustain her and my dad for the next twenty years. I also love good quality coffee and wanted a new challenge.
Do you have any unique drinks or food items that set you apart from other coffee shops?
At this stage I would not say that we have any unique drinks. However, we are testing a few creations here and there to test market viability, but it is a slow process. We are currently testing viability of a Brazilian style lemonade that can be charged with a shot espresso for a Charged Lemonade. Within the next week or so we will also have our own variety of café style "mega" cookies, which I bake myself using a modified version of my grandmother's recipe. In time, I would also like to introduce a selection of New York style cookies to the menu, should I find a place to set up a kitchen for baking. This will also enable us to bake our own style of 'boere' bread that we plan to use to make our toasted sandwiches, which will add a bit more value for money.
Any exciting plans or events coming up for the shop?
For now, we are just aiming to make it past the six month mark and from there maybe open a second location. As for events and such, there are none planned for a while as the operating budget is a bit constrained. Going forward, I hope to utilize the pizza oven we have on site to make pizza and bake bread. I would also like to add a little pastry counter, along with baking our own pastries and cookies from my mother and grandmother's handwritten recipe book. That will set us apart from other cafés, since we will have cakes and cookies and so on that cannot be found in other cafés or shops. On some Fridays we make subs or steak sandwiches the way I like them - stuffed to the brim. However, we usually have a limited amount available.
What do you hope customers feel or experience when they visit?
Well, I hope they feel satisfied and happy with the service and coffee, as I always try to give the highest standard in service and try to be the last line of defense when it comes to quality control. If I won't drink it, or eat it, I won't serve it. Overall, I hope they just feel happy with the coffee and enjoy the tranquility.
Where to find them
Find them at 94 Retief Street, Potchefstroom. You can also head on over to Facebook or Instagram, and give them a follow.
With these exciting new flavours being tested, we can't wait to return to taste them for ourselves!
Johané van Dyk - Potchefstroom
