A second-year student has opened a mobile coffee shop in a well-known student neighbourhood of Stellenbosch after identifying a market among students studying online and from home.
Curbside Coffee began trading on the corner of Soeteweide and Groeneweide Street on 15 March.
Brendan Phillips pouring a coffee. PHOTO: Erin Walls.
This is according to Brendan Phillips, owner of Curbside Coffee. Phillips is an accounting student at Regent Business School. He selected the coffee shop’s current location due to its proximity to student housing, according to Phillips.
“With students spending so much of their days at home learning online, I felt being located in the hub of the student living area was ideal,” said Phillips.
The mobile coffee shop is situated outside a student house. “I decided to knock on their [residents of the house] door and ask if I could park my trailer there, and in a day or two, it was organised. They were really friendly and willing to help,” said Phillips.
Brendan Phillips’ tip jar, which he uses for his studies. PHOTO: Erin Walls.
Stellenbosch students who visited Curbside Coffee claimed it was conveniently located.
“I visit him regularly,” said Tasmin Waite, who lives on the property where Curbside Coffee is based. Waite is an honours student in logistics management at Stellenbosch University. “Having unreal coffee right on my doorstep is the biggest blessing and curse I have faced in my four years of varsity. My bank account isn’t happy, but I sure am.”
Curbside Coffee was originally located near Betty’s Bay, where it built up a good reputation, according to Phillips.
“I only began 8 months ago, just after the strict lockdown had ended,” said Phillips. “My first successful spot was on Clarence Drive, on your way to Betty’s Bay.”
A coffee from Curbside Coffee. PHOTO: Erin Walls.
Phillips balances the management of his business with his studies. “Early mornings and late nights have become normal in my life, but I would not have it any other way. It really is rewarding,” said Phillips.
SIDEBAR: Still business unusual for Neelsie coffee shops
While classes have started again at Stellenbosch University, coffee shops located in the Neelsie Student Centre say it is still not business as usual for them.
“We expected more customers now that classes have started. However, I think students are rather staying at home and would prefer not to walk here [Neelsie Student Centre], because of online learning,” said Promise Kurumani, an employee of DCM Inc. coffee shop.
My Brew, another Neelsie coffee shop, has also been affected by the decrease in students on campus, according to Freddie Kruger, the owner of My Brew.
“If we take business now and compare it to pre-Covid, we are making less than 50% than we did before, perhaps even 30%. We are bleeding,” said Kruger. “I really encourage students to support local [businesses] as much as they can in this time,” he added.