The best thing about Camel City Coffee in Winston-Salem, of course, is the amazing assortment of the finest handcrafted coffees (and teas!) in town. Shopping local and supporting a popular small business, however, is a wonderful bonus, and watching them expand is priceless!
“We added the coffee shop when we moved the bakery downtown to Fifth Street five years ago,” says Chelsea Tart, who, along with her mother, Lynn Tart, owns the shop. “Then we incorporated the coffee side—Camel City Coffee—as its own entity in February 2019. Having opened the bakery in 2009 allowed us the opportunity to grow and expand into coffee.”
Opening another new location in a challenging time might seem daunting, but Chelsea says the chance for a new downtown location basically “fell into their lap” last May, and despite Covid-19, it was an amazing opportunity with low risk.
“The new space is on the backside of Liberty Plaza and will open November 2020, and our courtyard and entrance overlook the brand new Kaleideium,” says Chelsea. “We’ve also added seating back on the patio, and we have about 12 seats that are safely distanced, weather permitting. Our WiFI works outside also, and fur babies are always welcome!”
While good coffee always brings people together, Chelsea explains being small-business owners—especially of a coffee shop—offers her and her mom a truly exceptional opportunity to interact with the local community on a daily basis.
“The absolute best part of our job is the conversations we have each and every day with our customers, who have become our friends,” she says. “No day is exactly the same, but each day the routine is similar: We make new friends, we catch up with old friends, and we get to watch Winston-Salem evolve!”
With the cozy fall season upon us, you’ll love their new seasonal offerings of “Something Wixcked” (a cinnamon-spiced cold brew topped with pumpkin foam, making it the most festive combo around!) and “Apple of my Chai” (Made with apple, caramel, and cinnamon, mixed with steamed chai and oat milk, Chelsea says it’s like drinking an apple pie from a cup! Count us in!)
All of Camel City Coffee’s teas are sourced from Angelina’s, on Stratford Road, right here in Winston-Salem. Lynn says the staff is also working on fun new shirt designs and camper mugs that will make great holiday gifts, as well as additional gift items they plan to add, including Nomad Candles, based in Charlotte, and Tony’s Chocolonely, a slave-free, fair-trade Dutch confection company. She also expects to have bagged beans for sale again in November!
Another favorite feature of Camel City Coffee is the @joecoffeeapp, which functions as the shop’s “punch card” system, allowing customers to earn “beans” and later redeem them for free coffee.
“What’s even cooler,” says Chelsea, is that once everyone can travel wherever and whenever they like, you’ll be able to shop at any store that utilizes the app and earn beans!” (Think: earning 1,000 beans while on vacation and then receiving a free drink at Camel City Coffee when you get back home!)
The store has links to order on their Instagram and Facebook pages; you can download straight from the App Store, or even text the word “coffee” to 474747 for a link to download.
“We also run promotions exclusively through the app, and it allows for easy pre-ordering for customers, including counter pick-up or curbside service options,” explains Lynn.
The two are also proud their espresso comes from Case Coffee Roasters in Ashland, Oregon, where the owners work with small, family farms to source organic beans – and their drip coffees are roasted in Greensboro by a wholesale roaster—also organic and fair-trade.
Come relax and greet your new day with Camel City Coffee at 110 Oakwood Drive, Suite F, Winston-Salem, NC, 336-955-2246, and at their new location starting in November, downtown at 102 W. 3rd Street. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–2 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Follow them on Instagram @camelcitycoffee @ joecoffeeapp.
