A Look Back at Vienna Coffee House Through the Years

18 years ago, in July, I walked away from the Corporate world for good.  That is when Vienna Coffee Company, LLC became a serious idea.  Still, what we did in the wholesale (roasting) side of the business was well within my comfort zone because it was a manufacturing job. It was using a big piece of thermal processing equipment like I had worked on for 27 years.  The roaster was just a small version of the kilns and furnaces that I had worked on for my whole career in chemical incineration.  Manufacturing coffee, even specialty coffee, requires skills that I already a good head-start on.

Retail coffee service, operating an actual Coffee House is a whole other thing!

So…what do you do when you want to open a coffeehouse but do not know how?  You hire someone who does!  In 2010, one of Vienna’s best wholesale customers was Thunderhead Perk in Townsend.  Jaimie Matzko had opened it and run Thunderhead Perk successfully for several years.  She knew what it meant to love coffee and your customers so much that you were willing to do what it takes to operate long hours, maintain quality and do it all with a smile!  When we opened Vienna Coffee House, I knew Jaimie was who needed to run it!  Happily, Jaimie was ready for a new challenge too.  As she says it,

“I had always thought that downtown Maryville needed a place like the Vienna Coffee House. When John offered me the position to help open and manage the High Street location, I jumped at the opportunity. After running my own coffee shop in Townsend for 5 years, I couldn’t wait for a new challenge. Just getting the doors opened was an insane amount of hard work but somehow, we did it! The community welcomed us with open arms, and I couldn’t believe how quickly we gained a loyal following. I have so many fond memories of the first open mic nights, hosting amazing musicians like Robinella and Blushin’ Roulettes, decorating for holidays....not being able to make decadence bars fast enough to keep up with the demand! I’m so proud to see how far the Vienna Coffee House has come. It’s an honor that I was able to be there at the beginning of something great.”

Thursday October 7th, 2010 was a big day for Vienna Coffee.  It was a cold, wet day on the eve of the 2010 Foothills Fall Festival kick-off in Maryville’s Green Belt Park.  Jaimie, me and her team had trained and worked hard to get our new Vienna Coffee House open in time for the festival.  We pulled it off and were delighted to serve up expertly crafted coffees to a small and growing group of coffee lovers!  That first Coffeehouse on High Street gave way to this location in 2013 and we serve today like we did then: to “Delight the Customer!”

Fast forward 10 years.  Our opening team: Jaimie, Kyle Wigington, Jennie (Shock) Wilhite, Marge Meredith, Sarah (Leslie) Philips, Kitty Phillips are all names that coffee lovers in Blount County will remember.  Some are still involved in coffee.  Some are new Mothers.  Kyle is now a Dad AND a coffee guy.  I personally am very gratified that we have survived, grown and made a significant impact on the coffee culture in Maryville, Knoxville and beyond. 

We have had 1st dates here, down-on-one-knee engagements, weddings and showers galore.  We have hosted lectures, support groups, Home School (BHEA) classes, study halls, class reunions, Bible studies, Fundraisers, concerts, radio plays, tea parties, a songwriter’s competition, poetry slams, open mic nights, trivia nights, book clubs, team meetings, interviews, sales presentations, art competitions and art shows.  Three separate congregations have held Church services in our space. We conducted coffee classes ranging from Espresso 101 to cuppings and have taught dozens of new coffeehouse owners how to make it look easy (it’s not).  Ugly Sweater contests and Latte Art Throwdowns have been heated and hilarious. My Pastor suggested an idea that resonates with me.  Emily said the Vienna Coffee House has become “Maryville’s Living Room”.  I think that rings true!

There have been dozens of cooks and Baristas punch the clock here.  Each, for their time here, have made their mark on us and contributed passion, humor and creativity.  You have laughed with us and at us.  We have teased and cried. We have delighted customers and made Great Coffee an Adventure.  Thanks to everyone of you, staff and customers, that have made the past 10 years something that we can all be proud of!

Great Coffee is an Adventure!

- John Clark, roastmaster