Foxy Loxy Café in the Starland District has been a hit with neighborhood folks, SCAD students and people seeking a casual setting for business meetings since opening in the fall of 2011.
So a few months ago, owner Jen Jenkins decided to brave some fresh territory — the corner of Broughton and Whitaker streets, where her new venture, The Coffee Fox, is now open for business.
So far, so good.
The ideal location, a short walk from City Market, the Jepson Center and the Telfair Academy, is just one aspect that has set up The Coffee Fox for instant success.
“A couple of really great opportunities fell into my lap — investor and location/competitive lease,” Jenkins explains. “Once I saw the positive response the community had to Foxy Loxy, I thought in the back of my head that it might be nice to have a second location serving a slightly different demographic in the future. As soon as I opened up that door in my mind, things started to come together and opportunities presented themselves.”
Situated among the shops of Broughton Street, the Coffee Fox, like its older sister, serves local PERC Coffee because PERC owner Philip Brown “treats the beans right and comes in often to try out his coffee in our hands,” Jenkins says.
“He often tweaks his blends and his roasting to see how it then affects the outcome on our end. Our relationship with PERC has been absolutely key to the coffee/espresso program’s success at Foxy,” she adds.
But the two locations each have their own focus, Jenkins explains, with the Coffee Fox being a more beverage-heavy model.
“Most notably, we have a brew bar using Chemex pour-overs. We also plan to offer single-origin espresso in addition to the Juggernaut espresso blend we now offer at Foxy. ... And the beer and wine menu will also be expanded to include three microbrews on tap, with the fourth tap housing our cold (coffee) brew.”
Jenkins’ promises that the Coffee Fox’s brew bar “will bring the fancy.”
“We will be working closely with Philip to offer seasonal/unique single-origin coffees,” she says. “Since the pour-over method is slow, it tends to be a little pricier but well worth it. It is also beautiful to watch and I hope will give us a moment to talk to people about our coffee and these brew methods.”
As a Savannah College of Art and Design alumna — earning her MFA in fibers in 2006 — and adjunct printmaking professor, Jenkins remains committed to showcasing art at both of her businesses.
“My artist self is also really excited about the collaborative collage wall” in the space, she says. “I have collected hand pulled prints from the students in the printmaking program at SCAD.”
Ultimately, Jenkins wanted to offer another location that provides a unique experience for both tourists and locals.
“My experience with Foxy has made me realize how responsive the community and tourists are to specialty coffee and the independently run coffee shop atmosphere,” she says. “When people come to Savannah, I think that they are looking for experiences they can’t get anywhere else. They want to try all that is local and unique to this area and town.”
IF YOU GO
What: The Coffee Fox
When: 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday
Where: 102 W. Broughton St.
Info: thecoffeefox.com