Comings and Goings: Coffee shop to add Williamsport store

New coffee shop to open in Williamsport around Labor Day

Local coffee business River Bottom Roasters is expanding to the Williamsport area.

Owner Craig Campbell, who opened River Bottom Roasters in Hagerstown in 2018, said he's opening a new shop on Governor Lane Boulevard around Labor Day.

A native of Washington County, Campbell began roasting coffee in his garage as a hobby. He would give out specialty roasted blends to friends and family. Eventually, demand was high and Campbell had a light-bulb moment: Washington County did not have a craft coffee roaster, so why not go ahead and start a business?

From there, Campbell opened a coffee shop in the downtown Hagerstown area.

Campbell said he decided to open the Williamsport store because the business outgrew the Hagerstown shop.

“I had about 350 square feet that I was renting and for the last couple of years, we’ve been trying to move out,” Campbell said. “But, the build out and the permitting and things like that has been quite daunting.”

Ultimately, Campbell was able to work with Bowman Development Corp. on plans for the new store.

“The Bowman Development group there have been just amazing to work with and they want to really see River Bottom be successful and have done everything to help me,” Campbell said.

The new store will include repurposed windows from the former Fairchild Factory, food such as authentic New York bagels, specialty cream cheeses and baked goods from local bakers, Campbell said.

The Williamsport store also will house an expanded tasting room.

“So kind of like you can go to a vineyard or winery and taste different wines, you’ll be able to taste different coffees from around the world in the same fashion,” Campbell said.

Campbell said River Bottom Roasters will hire 12 to 15 new employees for the new store. There will be about 4,000 square feet in the new shop at 10212 Gov. Lane Blvd., Unit 1008.

Sales associate earns professional designation

Leisa Rice, who serves as a sales associate in the Century 21 Market Professionals Hagerstown office, recently earned a new professional designation.

According to a Grassroots Newswire release, Rice fulfilled the Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) Designation, which “trains real estate brokers to profitably and ethically serve the real estate needs of clients age 50+.”

“By earning the Seniors Real Estate Specialist Designation, I have enhanced my ability to add value to each real estate transaction and ensure that Century 21 Market Professionals clients receive the professional real estate services they expect and deserve,” Rice said in the release.

Rice spent 25 years in the nursing field before getting into the real estate business.

“My nursing experience enables me to communicate with all types of backgrounds, and to prioritize for my clients so that we aren’t looking around for homes that don’t match their criteria,” Rice said in the release.

Potomac Bancshares adds board member

Potomac Bancshares (PTBS) has a new board member.

Michael Huber, founder and CEO of Belfort Furniture in Loudoun County, Va., was named to the board of directors on June 1, according to a news release.

Potomac Bancshares owns BCT (Bank of Charles Town) in West Virginia, which also is referred to as The Community’s Bank. The bank dates to 1871.

Dr. Keith Berkeley, board chairman for Potomac Bancshares and BCT said in the news release that the board of directors was pleased to welcome Huber.

“His experience in building successful business from the ground up will provide insightful perspectives for our strategic oversight, especially for Northern Virginia,” Berkeley said. “We’re also excited to have Mike’s notable community commitment that is a perfect fit with our principle of neighbor helping neighbor.”

In addition to founding Belfort Furniture, which provides furniture to over 200 residences daily, Huber also founded Stone Tower Winery in Loudoun County in 2009, the release states.

A graduate of Northern Virginia Community College, Huber gives back to his local Virginia community in different ways.

Huber is part of the Route 28 Commission Advisory Board; has been involved with Virginia’s reforestation efforts; has assisted in funding for over 4,800 children to go to YMCA summer camp programs and over 200 youths to go to full-year YMCA after school programs; and has played a large part in raising almost $3 million for the Virginia Vine “Jimmy V” charity that helps with cancer research.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Hagerstown coffee business adding store in Williamsport