Good Living Coffee Zone is a coffee shop that makes coffee more than your next caffeine fix – it’s built on the desire to build community through quality products and social dedication. On my very first visit, I knew this was a business I wanted to get to know better. I highlighted it as one of my Fayetteville faves but I also wanted to know more about the why behind Good Living Coffee Zone as a Brand and Business.

I approached Good Living Coffee Zone owner, Ernie to see if I could ask him about his why behind the business. It wasn’t too far into the interview that I realized for him, this shop is more than a business. Good Living Coffee Zone is Ernie’s way to share his passion for good living, his pursuit of quality ingredients and his purpose of bringing businesses together in support of their community.

Coffee shops and Cafes run in my blood. When I was 7 years old and later while in high school I worked in my mother’s Cafe and coffee shops doing inventory, door to door direct marketing, pulling espresso shots and even setting up her staff meetings. She opened over nine locations (South Florida and Puerto Rico) before becoming a psychologist. I became partner/member of four locations after I joined the Army and since than planned on opening my own brand before retirement.

Good Living is based on the smoothies we sell. The specialty smoothies and healthy selections we have. The social involvement with your family and kids. Coffee Zone is the specialty coffees we sell based off different flavors.

We are the only coffee shop that allows you to select your own coffee bean. GLCBlend is a mixture of five beans strongest option. Honduran Sunatra African blends.

Guy with glasses is actually coffee cups: Cool dude with glasses + Good living is the guy + Coffee are the glasses.

It’s exciting to think about GLCZ’s short and long-term plans because it challenges my imagination. When I first drafted my business plan the objective was and still is to keep GLCZ regionally which ties into my social goals. Since I’ve been stationed at Fort Bragg I fell in love with Fayetteville and North Carolina. As GLCZ grows regionally we will be in a better position to take on more initiatives aimed at contributing to our neighborhoods and community a lot more.

After I helped my brother open his own cell phone repair company I learned through the process that becoming a business owner is for me. I grew up with two entrepreneurs (mom and dad) who always told me that the world is full of producers and consumers. Two years ago I decided to make a major shift in life and become a producer.

Marketfair Shopping Center is built on relationships and is a community of tenants. Fayetteville is also built on relationships and is a community of neighborhoods. Both are built on trust, communication, common interests, and shared values. We want Marketfair to be part of Fayetteville’s community and be a support network. We want to connect, engage and communicate with Fayetteville through our monthly events. We want to add value to our customers experience each and every time they visit Marketfair.

There’s a lot of resources available for the prospective small business owner, especially veterans. The advice would be to use their institutional knowledge, experiences and to always network, network, and network. Come up with the plan (business model), apply the appropriate resources (funds, training, counseling, etc) to that plan, execute it and assess and refine it as they move forward. If something doesn’t work, don’t be afraid to try something new. We learn by taking risks and from experiences.

I actually have two favorite GLCZ drinks. A cortado for the mornings and a GLCZ Super Green Smoothie for the afternoons. I am a fan of healthy smoothies. Coffee keeps me going while smoothie refreshes and slows me down.

The next time you’re on Skibo Road in Fayetteville be sure to stop by MarketFair Shopping Center. You can make an entire day of it with a movie, lunch or dinner and a great cup of coffee from Good Living Coffee Zone!

PS – Don’t forget to tell them TheMrsTee sent ya!

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