Today we’d like to introduce you to Angie Jackson and Dewana Montgomery.
Hi Angie and Dewana, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
LIT Java Coffee & Books came about from a small neighborhood book club that sprouted during the pandemic. We were a group of ladies looking to connect with the outside world without having to go outside, so our book club The LIT Lounge formed. We met virtually for several months until the world opened back up. When it was safe, we began meeting at different locations within the Houston area to discuss our Book of the Month and to get to know each other. Friendships were formed, and bonds were made during these meetups.
One day, we (Dewana and Angie) went to visit a different bookstore that was about 45 minutes away from where we live. During the ride, we both shared with each other a secret dream that we had. The ironic part is that it turned out to be the same dream. We both always wanted to open our own bookstore and coffee shop. After visiting this particular bookstore, we got back in the car, looked at each other, and simply said, “Let’s do it!” We hit the ground running from that point and never looked back.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Opening LIT Java Coffee & Books has not been easy. It has been filled with challenges, which ultimately turned out to be learning experiences. One of the most difficult obstacles we faced was finding the perfect location that fit our vision. We were determined to stay in our community, but due to zoning and permitting, our options were limited because we wanted to include mimosas and wine on our menu. We had to familiarize ourselves with the zoning laws so that we would know what areas we could open in.
Over the course of a year, we applied to several locations, and for varying reasons, they just did not work out. However, with the help of realtor Rod Owens, we persevered. We both had moments where we considered pausing, but during those moments we would encourage each other and lean onto our mantra, “Faith over Fear.”
The new home for LIT Java Coffee & Books was a shell of a space. It did not even have walls or complete plumbing. Construction and renovations took more time and more money than we originally anticipated. However, we decided to use the downtime to market and promote our new business. We hosted our 2nd Literary and Vendor Fair, where we showcased local independent authors and other local small businesses. We did book a book drive for foster children and continued hosting our monthly book club meetings at various locations.
We knew books from our decades of being book lovers, but we only drank coffee. We did not really know what all went into having a barista bar and creating the different java drinks. While the space was being renovated, we took the opportunity to educated ourselves on the art of coffee making and enhancing our coffee knowledge. We attended barista classes and partnered with a local coffee consultant, Geva Coffee, to learn all that we could about being a barista, coffee equipment, and the operational aspects of running a coffee bar.
Getting to this point in our journey has not been easily, but we are learning that what really matters is how we face the obstacles. We choose to see them as learning opportunities as opposed to blockades. We will continue to lean into our faith make sure our intentions and hearts are pure, and with that we believe that LIT Java Coffee & Books will become a staple in our community.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We operate according to our 5 Cs:
1) Curated Literary Experiences
2) Community
3) Cultural Diversity
4) Connections
5) Conversations over LIT cups of Coffee!
We look forward to bringing the community together through curated literary experiences such as book clubs, author events, bookcations, reading and writing contest, read-ins, write-ins, wellness events, and a plethora of children-focused events. We do not want to be a business that simply siphons resources from the community, so therefore, we are determined to pour back into those who have supported and encouraged us along this journey. We strive to be a valuable resource for those we serve.
We want people, especially children, who walk into our bookstore to see themselves in the stories on the shelves, no matter what cultural background they come from. We want them to see that they can be heroes and heroines in their own stories. We desire that not only will they be able to freely express their appreciation for their own culture, but that they will also learn about others. We believe that learning about different cultures and traditions is the primary way to eradicate ignorance, thus promoting cultural awareness and understanding. We look forward to celebrating the diversity that is represented in Pearland, which has been hailed as one of the most diverse cities in America.
We’d love for LIT Java Coffee & Books to be a place where like and unlike-minded people can come, connect, and learn about each other. We look forward to providing the space and coffee for collaborations to be made and conversations to be had.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
When evaluating the role of luck, we choose to lean more towards serendipity. Serendipity requires work to be done in order to connect the dots when opportunities present themselves, whereas ‘luck’ implies that things just happen without much effort. We believe serendipity has played a role in the process and our progress. The way we met was unexpected unplanned, and in no way did we realize it would bring us to this point. But when we met, we realized the connection we had and decided to make the most of it.
I (Angie) would see Dewana pop up on my Facebook feed as someone who I might know. I had absolutely no clue who she was. As that point, we had no mutual friends and had never interacted with each other. However, something just told me that she was someone who I was supposed to meet. I did not know why or when, but I knew our paths were destined to cross. Turns out, we both ended up joining a Facebook group called Melanin Moms of Pearland. I mentioned in the group that I had a virtual book club and invited people to join. Dewana took me up on the invitation. Over the course of a few months, I had some personal events that took my time and attention away from the book club, and asked if someone would be interested in being co-admin and help with the management while I was away. Dewana was the only one to volunteer. From there the rest is history. We ended up bonding over our shared love for conversations about books over cups of coffee.
As we pursued our dream of opening LIT Java Coffee & Books, we have been blessed to have the right people at the right times cross our paths. We have had opportunities present themselves, and we have eagerly acted upon those opportunities with open minds and hearts, and those often led to new people and opportunities. This journey has been enjoyable and one we both are eager to continue!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.litjava.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/litjava/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/curatedlitexperiences
Image Credits
Devron Zeno Photography
