Entering the Mojo Café on Brambleton Avenue in southwest Roanoke feels like arriving at a small family reunion or an impromptu gathering of friends. Owners Sybil Barrett and Nicole Litwiller are central to the welcoming atmosphere. They are like sisters – laughing, talking and generally having a good time. Their spirited banter belies the fact that they work very hard serving their customers “the best product we can make,” just one of the reasons they have succeeded, according to Barrett.
Mojo will celebrate its fifth anniversary on Monday Nov. 9; no small feat considering their coffee shop has been around the longest of any on the Brambleton corridor, where several others have failed. The café serves both coffee and food; the breakfast menu is available all day.
Both Barrett and Litwiller, and many of their loyal customers, feel their coffee is “the best in the valley” in part because they use “the best beans available,” from Larry’s Beans in Raleigh, N.C. Barrett, who has extensive experience working in coffee shops in both Greensboro and Roanoke, cites their continued commitment to organic fair trade coffee suppliers as a pioneering effort here in the valley.
Larry’s Beans visits farms all over the world to be certain they compensate the growers fairly. For their part, Mojo’s has been ahead of the “green” curve, using decomposable corn products for the cups and utensils as well. Other products used are recyclable.
The owners characterize the menu as quick good food that leans toward the light and healthy. The portion sizes are larger than are typically found in many similar restaurants, which translates into a slightly longer stay in the eclectic, homey shop. Free wireless Internet is available for customers who’d rather surf than chat.
Even though it would seem they have been lifelong friends, Barrett and Litwiller actually met only six months before going into business together. The idea for a coffee shop had been discussed, but when they saw a For Lease sign at their current location, in 72 hours they had a business plan and a signed lease.
Longtime customer Sheree Ringer comments that, “if you visit a place long enough you become part of a little community that you look forward to every day, and the organic coffee is hands down the best I’ve tried. I’m a Mojoer!”
Both Litwiller and Barrett agree that they are “blessed with tons of loyal clientele and also the new faces” they see each day. The Mojo Café is located diagonally across from the Coffee Pot at 2825 Brambleton Ave. and is open Mon.– Fri. 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sat. and Sun. 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Phone 769-6050.
By Cheryl Hodges [email protected]
