Empire Tea and Coffee, a Newport staple for two decades, plans to open a third location in Newport: a new cafe at 135 JT Connell Highway.
CJ Barone, Managing Partner of Empire Tea & Coffee, cites increasing demand as the primary driver for expansion.
“The demand for our products has been steadily increasing and we needed a larger space for another coffee roaster,” Barone told What’sUpNewp during an interview on Friday, October 18. “Since the pandemic, both ready-to-drink and coffee bean sales, retail sales have been increasing steadily.”
The new location will serve dual purposes, housing both a cafe and an expanded roasting facility. Barone initially sought an industrial space for roasting operations but saw an opportunity in the JT Connell Highway site.
“From a roasting perspective, to be that close to the highway allows us to get shipments in coffee beans and get it to our stores,” Barone said. “From a cafe perspective, it’s a great opportunity to expand our brand, expand our menu, which we’re really excited about.”
Unlike Empire’s existing locations, the new cafe will offer on-site parking, a feature Barone believes will transform the customer experience.
“This is the first location in 20 years to have parking,” he noted. “We feel like we’re going to have a lot more opportunity to find customers that can come in and sit down and have a meal with us for breakfast or lunch.”
The expanded menu will feature Mediterranean-inspired options for both breakfast and lunch. Barone described dishes like Turkish eggs and herb yogurt with crusty bread, as well as sandwiches, salads, and grain bowls.
“We want people to come in and have a little more time to sit there,” Barone said. “Eventually we’re going to get some outdoor seating.”
While the application lists operating hours from 5:30 am to 8 pm, Barone indicated these may be adjusted based on staffing and demand. The early opening is aimed at capturing commuter traffic.
The new location is expected to serve as a testing ground for menu items that may eventually be introduced at Empire’s two other Newport locations and Bristol location.
“We have a lot more storage space,” Barone said. “It’s a good opportunity for us to store a lot more product, to do some more experimentation and things that we think are our hits.”
Barone anticipates hiring between 20 and 30 people for the new location, with recruitment likely to begin in mid-November. Full-time staff are offered health benefits, competitive wages, and product discounts. Those interested in employment can apply here.
Barone expects the cafe to be ready in December. However, he’s not ruling out a January launch to ensure everything is perfect.
“We’re going to start off with having some preview nights for our employees, our friends and family, some loyal customers,” Barone said. “Anybody that’s following us on Instagram and has our app will get invites to sign up for an opportunity to come in and see it and also to experience the menu on us.”
As Empire Tea and Coffee celebrates its 20th anniversary in Newport, Barone sees the expansion as a testament to the community’s support.
“We’re really excited,” he said. “This really represents our commitment to our community and also the support our community has given us in 20 years.”
