Background
Panacea Coffeehouse, Cafe, and Roastery is located in the historical Frog Level district of Waynesville, NC. Opened in 2002 by owners Brian Pierce and Jane Shearer, Panacea immediately became the community coffeehouse and destination western North Carolina was looking for. Occupying a historically designated warehouse with the only creekside seating in town we serve a full cafe style menu, traditional espresso drinks, and freshly roasted coffee. Our roastmaster has been in the business for 15 years and prides himself on being a true artisan roaster. Pair that with Shearer's incredible skills in ambiance, delicious food, and ability to make you feel like you have come home and you get the most wonderful coffeehouse experience the appalachian mountains could ever offer. Come in, Relax, and Enjoy.
Find us at 66 Commerce St. Waynesville, NC 28786, call us at 828-452-6200, or e-mail us at panaceacoffeehouse@yahoo.com.
Keys to Success
Loving what you do, who you do it for, who helps you do it, and doing it with passion and a big grateful smile.
Target Customers
All Good People.
Challenges Faced
Working out systems that would work for us took a lot of trial and error. It seemed so easy but reality is very different. Jane is blessed with an ability to create systems to direct the employees and the business with consideration of the future. This was key in obtaining a productive and caring environment we could all feel comfortable working with. Training employees to be the best and to let them know their are expectation for them and also for us, the owners. Open communication with each other is essential.
Maintanance is a big challenge for a small business owner but the only thing to do here is stay on top of it and do the best one can do.
Hours of operation was a challenge. Two years we were opened for business 96+ hours a week and that was tough. We then put together a graph based on hourly sales for those two years and tweeked our hours accordingly. You start out with a grand idea of what you want to work but your customer base is who really decides that for you. So, we changed our hours and it works great.
Where We're Headed
Continuing to be the best and having fun doing it. Creating thought, conversation, education, and a place to come in and be greeted by friends.
