Restaurant concept combines “passionately-brewed” coffee and breakfast and lunch items, with mission to “positively impact the community” including supporting families in adoption process
Just Love Coffee Café franchise owners Kathryn and Gray Ives have selected Sweetgrass Corner for the concept’s initial entry point into the greater Charleston area with plans to open within the center located at 1909 N Highway 17 in early 2025. The husband-and-wife duo signed a lease with Continental Realty Corporation (CRC) for 1,400 square feet of space and plan to hire approximately 20 full and part-time employees to operate the restaurant. Monica Johnson, Senior Leasing Associate with CRC represented the landdord and Mark Stanislawski with The Retail Strategy Real Estate Group represented the tenant in this transaction.
Just Love Coffee Cafe currently operates approximately 50 stores in nearly 20 states, with the majority situated in Tennessee, but is in the midst of a significant expansion. The restaurant concept combines “passionately-brewed” coffee along with breakfast and lunch items with a mission to “positively impact the community,” including supporting families involved in the adoption process.
“Given all the many problems that exist in the world and the differing viewpoints which cause dissension, the Just Love Coffee Cafe mission hit home for us and we felt compelled to join the franchise and do our part to help make our community better,” explained Kathryn Ives. “It might sound trite, but people can truly make a positive difference and we have arrived at a juncture in our lives where we really want to try. Just Love Coffee provides an opportunity to accomplish this goal.”
The menu items of the restaurant start with hand-roasted coffee with beans curated from around the world to produce artisanal brews including Americano, Cappuccino, Frappe, Latte, and signature drinks such as the Cha-Cha, White Chocolate Tiramisu, and the Coco Loco. Breakfast menu items range from avocado toast, breakfast sandwiches and specialty waffles such as the brand’s famous Womelette, an omlette prepared in a waffle iron, to breakfast burritos. An assortment of lunch options is available, including chicken quesadillas, sandwiches, salads, and wraps, including their popular Jive Turkey Wrap. Their Stuffed Nutella Waffle and cinnamon rolls highlight the dessert menu.
But what really cemented the couple’s interest in the franchise was its altruistic efforts to support the community. This begins with supporting sustainable coffee communities worldwide and becoming involved with issues and causes that directly impact the places where its stores operate. After adopting children from Ethiopia, founder Rob Webb combined his passion for specialty coffee with a fundraising affiliate program that helped adoptive families defray some of the costs associated with their adoption journey. More than $100,000 was given back in the first year.
The franchise has adopted an “Eat, Drink, and Love” mantra that helps accent its mission to “be a catalyst for love.”
“When compared to the practices of national coffee stores and franchises, the high ideals and morals of Just Love Coffee stand out and we knew immediately that we wanted to be part of this movement,” Ives added.
Situated between N Highway 17 and Hungry Neck Boulevard at the intersection of Isle of Palms Connector, Sweetgrass Corner features 13 retail tenants offering a mix of personal care services as well as sit-down and fast-casual restaurants. CRC is working with one additional tenant to fill the remaining space in the former BI-LO box.
“The pending arrival of Trader Joe’s was the main attraction to Sweetgrass Corner, and the location will help fulfill our interest in drawing both businesspeople and surrounding residents,” Ives said. “We live in the Isles of Palms, are extremely familiar with the area and existing traffic in the center and believe the local community is significantly under-served by coffee shops. We intend to open at least one other location and Sweetgrass Corner provides an excellent starting point.”
“Just Love Coffee Café is more than a coffee shop – it’s a community hub,” said Kristina O’Keefe, CRC’s VP of Commercial Division. “Known for supporting local causes, the café adds both style and substance to Sweetgrass Corner. As the center’s only coffee shop, it fills a market gap, while its upscale vibe aligns with our vision for a premium shopping destination. Bringing Just Love Coffee here highlights CRC’s dedication to elevating customer experience and supporting community-focused businesses.”
Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland and founded in 1960, Continental Realty Corporation is a full-service commercial real estate and investment company focused on acquiring and operating retail and multifamily properties. The privately held firm owns and manages a diversified portfolio of retail centers consisting of more than eight million square feet of commercial space and over 9,000 apartment homes across 12 states, with a portfolio value exceeding $4 billion. For additional information, visit www.crcrealty.com.
