Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Roy.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
After many years of outside sales, I jumped into the restaurant business without any experience. July 2010 I opened the first Jolly Bean in the lobby of the Plymouth Registry of Motor Vehicle as a kiosk, a glorified kiosk. I sold coffee, lattes, sodas, real egg breakfast sandwiches, bagels, homemade sandwiches and quesadillas. After 4 years, 2 months and 20 days (who was counting??) the opportunity to move into my own brick and mortar local was presented to me. A business is town was retiring and their location would be up for rent soon. The town of Plymouth has an amazing program that not many know about and other towns don’t offer, Plymouth Economic Development Office. I was able to get my business loan through this program. Come to find out, there are now FIVE businesses in my industrial park that were also able to start their businesses through this same program. They are Pilgrim Powersports, Hearth Bread, International Cycling, Independent Fermentation and myself. That’s pretty awesome!!
I left the RMV building in Sept of 2015. I started the remodeling process at the new location in Camelot Park, off of exit 5 in Plymouth, in August. The ‘New Bean’ opened November 5, 2015. This ‘New Bean’ has taken off. The food is very fresh and homemade, and you can taste the love that is put into making it. I am from Monson, in Western Mass and stuck with my roots for some things here. My coffee roaster is Esselon, located in Hadley Ma and you don’t get a sub at my place, you get a grinder. 🙂
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
WOW…how much time do you have??? Struggles, every day presents a different struggle. I have always been a commission on sales person. My income was based solely on my actions, my hustle, my attention to detail. When you have 9 employees you have to put your trust into 9 other people to hustle and pay attention to detail. I learned really quickly what employees are capable of when you are not looking, I have been disappointed in the actions of others that I trusted way too many times in the last 3 and a half years. Bummer!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Jolly Bean Cafe – what should we know?
I like to think us as the ‘Cheers’ of coffee shops. We are off the beaten path in a very industrial park. We have a great daily repeat customer rate and that’s what makes it so fun. We know everyone’s names, their coffee and food orders. If you are a newbie, my staff always goes out of their way to make them part of the ‘family’ we have created there.
We have fantastic coffee! Our flavors are brewed into the beans, flavor without having to add sugar flavor shots. We have some really fun breakfast sandwich and burrito combos on our menu. One example is ‘The Dirty’ ~ jalapeño bagel, homemade jalapeño cream cheese, cucumber, bacon and an egg. Oh yum! Our lunch menu features a gigantic ‘Club’ sandwich that you might need to take home because you can’t finish it all.
I think that best time about the Jolly Bean is what it has created in Camelot Park. It is truly a community water cooler. DPW employees pulling up in an excavator or other heavy equipment is a normal day for us.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
OH SO MANY!!! My friend Pia owns the Sturbridge Coffee House and another friend Brian owns BT’s Smokehouse in Sturbridge. I really would have never started any of this if it wasn’t for meeting them at the right time of my life. What they have taught me got me to where I am now! Now, every single person that is around me is to thank for keeping this place going. When I say that I mean the physical Jolly Bean and keeping ME going. This is NOT easy, there is so much more then what everyone else sees that keeps this place going from day to day. My support system of friends and family are irreplaceable.
Contact Info:
- Address: 88 Camelot Drive #24
Plymouth, Ma 02360 - Phone: 508-747-2326 (BEAN)
- Email: Jollybeancafe@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jollybeancafe/
- Facebook: https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ffb.me%2Fjollybean&h=ATNQKSUc-rz5QGPHLbW4bFo96I51pTP1VHEe-8reoHI7vBL6i6BORV-W5wxVbs18AZpMjTS7KAnnekJi9rJL5n0B0BHAMFKspdjS4RLTKu9Urlqq8VQtMfdm
Image Credit:
Abigail Shea Photography
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