When you see a group of firefighters laughing and getting their morning coffee at a local business, you know it’s going to be good.
This is the case for Copper Star Coffee, a small, cozy coffee shop on Seventh Avenue in Phoenix. In addition to the firefighter regulars, the business attracts hundreds of happy customers from all backgrounds every day to grab a coffee, a donut, or one of their specialty bagels.
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Walking in, customers smell that strong coffee smell and can hear the happy chatter of everyone waiting patiently for their coffee. Up above, they see Copper Star’s busy but energetic team making sure everyone is served on time.
According to owner Bill Sandweg, demand for the goods — which sell at slightly less than Starbucks prices, with every one made fresh and local — is very high. The team makes 350-600 bagels a day on top of their other items, but that’s sometimes not enough.
“By noon on Sundays we run out of bagels, ‘cause we don’t have any backup and we’ve already sold off the 420 we’ve made and the 50 or so that we had left over from Saturday,” said Sandweg, laughing.
Sandweg explained that the homemade bagels — a recent addition — now make up 45% of their total sales. Customers love the bagels, and still love the iconic coffee and pastries as well.
Copper Star Coffee was founded in 2006 by Bill and Ginger Sandweg in what was once an old gas station, originally branded as Copper Star Cafe.
Sandweg explained that Copper Star Coffee was founded with, and still continues to work with, a “Do it yourself” attitude.
(Slide show photos by Sammy Travis)
When there wasn’t a good coffee shop around, they made one. When there weren’t good ingredients at the store, they found individual suppliers. And when there weren’t fresh bagel makers, they took the dive and started making their own.
Throughout years of hardship and adaptation, Sandweg explained that Copper Star has only gotten bigger and stronger, and they’re proud of what they’ve been able to accomplish.
But on top of the bargain prices and the award-winning ingredients like their homemade Jasmine Syrup, what brings people back to Copper Star Coffee is their commitment to their community.
Karla Henriksen, or “KJ,” who has come to Copper Star for the last 8 years with her two Boston terriers, explained that one of her favorite things is the constant friendliness.
“We come every morning and order the same coffee, and he gives homemade treats to the boys, to the dogs here. It’s very dog friendly, so we love it. And I know all of the baristas, and it’s just so friendly. We really enjoy it!” Henriksen said.
And along with community comes the neighborhood. Copper Star Coffee is located within the Melrose district, the proverbial “gayborhood” of Arizona.
Sandweg explained that this location — and commitment to the LGBTQ+ community — is something Copper Star takes seriously.
“We’re an LGBTQIA friendly establishment, because that’s what our neighborhood is. If you live in the Melrose District, any restaurant or any business holds a mirror up to the community that surrounds it, to the customers that come in,” Sandweg said.
“All of us are allies. I do worry about my community, my neighborhood … I will not let hate win.”
Mike Fornelli, Executive Director of Phoenix Pride, said that LGBTQ-friendly businesses like Copper Star Coffee can help erase hate, one step at a time.
“Sometimes, for some people, just seeing that Pride flag hanging or that rainbow sticker in the window provides that comfort and reassurance,” Fornelli said.
Copper Star Coffee is located at 4220 N. Seventh Ave. in Phoenix, Arizona, and opens from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. More information can be found at copperstarcoffee.com or by calling 602-266-2136.
