Porchlight Coffee Co: Keeping the Porch Light On
When you think of a porch light a fairly specific image comes to mind; there’s a sense of community, warmth, and comfort tied into it. That’s exactly the type of environment the husband and wife team Bridget and Daniel hope to embody at their coffee shop, Porchlight Coffee Co.
Recently we had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Daniel about how his business got started, the joys and difficulties of being a small business owner, and his hope for the future.
Daniel and Bridget have been working in coffee for 10 years and have always known they’d love to open up their own place. Daniel has always been drawn to the hospitality and community aspect that coffee brings. Coffee shops are where we gather, whether it’s for a work meeting, a club, or just to chat with a friend, coffee is often included in that. Daniel wanted to create a space where people could connect over a high-quality cup of coffee.
Porchlight opened in April of 2022 and at their one-year anniversary they had so much to celebrate. As Daniel reminisced on his first year in business he was most thankful for the connections they have made with the Akron community, and how they’ve been able to truly embody the mindset of gathering that inspired Porchlight.
Daniel admitted that opening a business has its ups and downs and it's much harder than it seems. He and Bridget welcomed their second child about three months before they opened, so having a newborn in the midst of all of the new business craziness definitely kept them on their toes. Although it was a lot of work Daniel has no regrets and says that all of the good that has come out of this business makes it worth every long day and sleepless night.
As we wrapped up our interview we asked Daniel what his hopes for the future are, and where he sees Porchlight going. He responded that he hopes for continued growth and a positive effect on the community. He hopes Porchlight is able to be a catalyst for others to join the community and encourage more small businesses to make their home in Akron. He loves that Akron has a cool local feel and he has the ability to impact the community while serving up some pretty yummy coffee.
