Aces of Trades: Robin Nevin opens own coffee shop after leaving the corporate world
PICKERINGTON − Getting furloughed from Starbucks led Robin Nevin to a new business endeavor as she recently opened Sorso Coffee at 7849 Refugee Road.
"Instead of going back into working for corporate my family decided that we would go on our own venture and open our own shop," Nevin said. "You can find some items that you find at all the coffee shops like basic lattes, blended drinks, frozen drinks. But we also have some custom items like Italian sodas. We've got all kinds of smoothies and combination tropical drinks with coconut milk, and things like that."
The new business also serves some baked goods.
Nevin was working through Starbucks' management program when she left there. She said she was a little leery about starting her own business.
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"Sure," she said. "There's always the fear of the unknown. You don't know if it's going to take off, if it's not going to be great. I know the coffee part of the business and my husband (Spencer) knows how to run a business because that's what he's done for 30 years in his trade. So we figured we know the details, but we wanted to wait for the perfect location."
That perfect location is across from Pickerington High School North because of the amount of foot traffic, Nevin said. It sits in a strip mall that also features a Kroger store.
She said business has gone well so far.
"It kind of goes in waves," Nevin said. "So it's quiet during some periods. The word is getting out slowly. But each day gets a little bit better. We've got a good amount of regulars already coming in. We've got names and faces and recognition already."
She said this seemed like the right time to open her first business.
"My kids are getting older and I felt like we could really do this and succeed at it," Nevin said. "So we thought, 'Let's give it a go.'"
She works from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. seven days a week, which she said is has been the hardest parts of opening a business.
"Just because I don't have family time at home," Nevin said. "But luckily, part of my family works with me, so we still spend time together."
Away from work, she said she enjoys spending time with her family.
"We love board games," Nevin said. "We like going to local places like Easton and shopping around and seeing what's out there. And, obviously, the last year we've done a lot of research at coffee shops. We spend a lot of our time hopping around the small businesses and checking it all out."
Sorso Coffee is open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
jbarron@gannett.com
740-681-4340
Twitter: @JeffDBarron
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Robin Nevin opens own coffee shop after leaving the corporate world
