The Tryon Coffeehouse Co-Op has relocated to a new location in St. Luke’s Plaza in Tryon at the end of their first year open. According to shop owner Tracey Daniels, the coffeehouse prides itself on being “not your average coffee shop.”

“I think the first year went great, and it was a little bumpy at first,” Tracey said. “We didn’t really know what we were getting ourselves into but we just really wanted to keep the community feeling here. I just wasn’t quite ready to mourn the coffee shop when Bill decided not to own the coffee shop any more and retired.”

Tracey said Ingham owned a coffee shop downtown for 17 years and was open for seven days a week at 7 a.m. She said she and her husband are trying to carry on the legacy of what Ingham started many years ago.

The proceeds from the coffee shop are donated back to the community, according to Tracey, and go towards local organizations like the Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, the Tryon Little Theater, local sports teams and kids’ art classes.

“The coffee house is a special place in Tryon and has centered itself in the community,” Tracey explained.

Tracey said the coffee house has raised more than $1,500 in its first year to go towards local organizations through its “guest barista” program where local organizations come in to help serve coffee to the community.

Everyone who works at the coffeehouse is a volunteer, according to Tracey, and no one takes home a paycheck from working. These volunteers have logged more than 4,000 hours at the shop.

Her husband Tim added that the coffee house has a “Cheers” feeling, where there’s always a friend to talk to in the shop.

“For the most part, people from all different walks of life come in to sit down and talk to their friends just like in ‘Cheers,’” Tim said. “They can have an open discussion, and although there have been a few disagreements here and there, we all get along.”

Tracey admitted that moving to the new location at St. Luke’s Plaza was a scary, but good move to make when the coffeehouse relocated in May and reopened the first week of June.

“We didn’t want to lose the 17 years of history present at the old location when we talked about moving,” Tracey explained. “But, we all talked about it as a co-op board about what we wanted to do moving forward, and it’s truly been great because of all the support we received from the community during the move.”

Local customers helped make the move possible by hanging up paintings and planting flowers outside the shop, according to Tracey, and Tim added that even Tryon Mayor Alan Peoples helped pitch in by installing outlets and painting the walls in the newly renovated building.

“It’s just been a real reminder that what we have been doing here has been worth every minute and hour over the last year,” Tracey said.

Chris Baschon is a local artist and board member of the coffeehouse and said the coffeehouse offers a “shelter from the storm.”

“For the past 17 years, the downtown coffeehouse has been a shelter from the storm, whether that is rain, ice or daily life,” Baschon said. “Just like Bill Ingham, who owned a downtown coffeehouse before us, we offer a great cup of coffee at a great price, free events and friendship.”

Calling themselves the “ambassadors of Tryon,” Tracey and Tim expressed their enjoyment in volunteering at the shop.

“Serving our community is indeed our priority, but I also enjoy talking to our out-of-town guests,” Tim said. “We are always suggesting restaurants and things to do in our town. We want them to enjoy their stay and come back. Oh, and we’re biker friendly and dog friendly as well.”

The shop thrives with community, Tracey said, and plans to extend business hours, which are currently from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Bagel Sundays and Mandala Mondays are staple events on the coffee shop’s schedule.

“It’s never been about the income, but the outcome here,” Tracey said. “We’ve grown organically and things have just naturally progressed since we opened. This is not about the ‘Chris show,’ the ‘Tracey show’ or the ‘Tim show.’ It’s about the history and being a shelter from the storm for the community.”