Today we’d like to introduce you to Cody V.
Hi Cody, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My business partner, Jonny, originally came up with the donut and coffee concept. I had always wanted to open a craft coffee shop, so when I heard about his idea, I immediately reached out to see if he was open to partnering. We were both ready to move on from the corporate restaurant world and wanted to build something that reflected our values — a space that served our community while offering high-quality coffee and pastries in a welcoming, creative environment.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has definitely been anything but smooth. Finding a restaurant loan is hard enough, but thankfully our past experience in the industry helped us navigate that part. The buildout process, though, was by far the most challenging. We ran into all kinds of obstacles — permit delays, contractor schedules — and honestly, the hardest part was just having to wait. When you’re excited and ready to open, that waiting game can really test your patience.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We both started at the very bottom with the corporate restaurant companies we worked for and eventually worked our way up to general manager roles. That experience gave us a real respect for the industry — we learned how to manage every aspect of a business, from staff and inventory to production and finances. Every penny that comes through our shop, we know how to manage it because we’ve done it all firsthand.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
We did find an advisor through the SBA that was a huge help to us. Also just keep going, when you want to stop is when good things start to happen
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blacklinecoffeedonuts.com
- Instagram: @blacklinecoffeedonuts
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blacklinecoffeedonuts/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@blacklinecoffeedonuts
