Will Morgan has begun preparations to open Vagabond Coffee in a 550 square foot storefront at 223 Hogan Street, adjacent to The UPS Store and The Happy Grilled Cheese. Morgan opened his business from a mobile trailer in late 2014 operating at an empty lot adjacent to the Laura Street Trio, before finally opening a storefront in the Murray Hill neighborhood in 2015. Morgan later opened a full-fledged coffee roastery across the street from the Murray Hill store earlier this year. The downtown storefront will be Morgan’s third physical location, with plans for further expansion in the near future.
Office workers and residents will soon cozy up to downtown’s newest third space when Vagabond Coffee opens along Hogan Street by year’s end. (Photo credit: @904coffee)
The downtown location will serve Vagabond’s various blends of coffee, cold brews and espressos in addition to handmade pastries and cookies. In addition to typical coffee-shop items, the downtown location will also introduce a selection of sandwiches as well as a bodega counter where various dry goods will be sold. Morgan notes that the product offerings will be similar to the Murray Hill location, but tailored to the needs of a busy downtown environment, telling The Jaxson, “We will have items geared towards office employees, and will introduce drip coffees into our product line downtown to meet the quick needs of downtown workers.” In a world that increasingly looks to balance convenience with authentic and quality experiences, Vagabond’s downtown location will add features to meet those needs. Morgan explains, “We are planning to have online ordering and pick up, with hopes of having delivery (downtown only) by beginning of next year.”
Originally operating from a converted, vintage camper, Vagabond Coffee opened for business downtown in 2014. (Photo credit @vagabondcoffee)
Morgan’s entrepreneurial journey will come full circle downtown, opening a brick and mortar location just a stone’s throw from where his trailer was once parked four years ago. “We hold to the premise that the heartbeat of any city is reverberated in the downtown area” says the young and infectiously optimistic entrepreneur. “I just love the feel and energy of a city. We want to be a part of the long term growth of downtown.”
Vagabond Coffee’s Murray Hill location has quickly became a hub for both young professionals and families. (Photo credit @vagabondcoffee)
The company will continue to expand their presence in the urban core. More coffee shops are beginning to sell Vagabond’s Jax-roasted coffee products, and additional retail storefronts are being sought. Vagabond will also have a location downtown inside the Barnett Building at the corner of Laura and Adams Street, after renovations are complete and the building re-opens to the public sometime in late 2019. Fans can keep up with the progress by following Vagabond Coffee on social media.
Article by Mike Field Mike Field is a banking analyst and real estate developer, who holds a degree in Economics from Florida State University. In 2015, he was named the State of Florida’s small business advocate of the year by the US Small Business Administration. A 2014 Next City Vanguard, Mike is the co-founder of Modern Cities and TransForm Jax. He also writes fiction novels under the name J.D. McGregor. Mike can be reached at mfield@moderncities.com.