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According to Cady, his father-in-law, Scott Stewart, made several trips out west and saw first hand the booming, drive-through coffee business. He brought the concept home to Lake City and Ellianos was born. Now, Ellianos is expanding by offering franchise opportunities in Florida and Georgia.
“Out west it’s (drive through coffee shop) really popular,” Cady said.
Owners of the Valdosta Ellianos, Jonathan and Cassie Chancy, found out about the opportunity with the company through a friend of a friend. Although Jonathan said he grew up drinking coffee, his wife, Cassie, she didn’t jump on the java train until they made the decision to open the new business.
These twenty-year old high school sweethearts are living the American dream of business ownership and have brought their friends along with them as employees.
Q: There are so many coffee terms out there. Was it hard to learn all of them?
A: J. Chancy: No. We went through a training course offered by Ellianos. We drove to Lake City every day for three months.
Q: With so many things to learn, what was the hardest?
A: J. Chancy: It takes a while to make the drinks fast and remembering all the recipes.
Q: Now that you have been open for a while, has anyone ordered anything you don’t know how to make?
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A: J. Chancy: Yes—a shot in the dark. We knew how to make it, but we didn’t know what it was called. It’s a regular cup of coffee with a shot of espresso.
Q: We live in Valdosta and this town isn’t exactly known for its coffee connoisseurs. What were your customers ordering when you first opened?
A: J. Chancy: French Vanilla. They were expecting a gas station cappuccino.
Q: Different coffee shops have specialty drinks that are unique to them. Does Ellianos have one?
A: J. Chancy: The Carmella. It is a latte with vanilla and real caramel. It comes hot, over ice, or as a freezer.
Tonya Duval, a student at Valdosta State University, is an intern at The Valdosta Daily Times.
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