Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Christine Leggett, owner of Oxford Social Cafe, located in Oxford, MD, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We are a coffee shop located in Oxford, MD but have become much more than that…we like to think that we have become a social “hub” for the town. We serve brewed coffee and artisanal drinks such as lattes, cappuccinos, etc., using coffee from the local roaster Rise Up Coffee. We serve baked goods, quiche, and paninis made by a local company Blue Heron Catering.

In addition, we sell handmade ice cream from our “sister” company, The Scottish Highland Creamery. We are located in a historic building that we renovated specifically for the coffee shop. Back in the 1930s, the building was a social center for the town serving as a local soda fountain and convenience store. We restored the exterior of the building back to those earliest photos. Inside, we’ve installed a fireplace to make a warm and cozy spot to gather in the winter. We are located next to a park with a playground and a small beach that is on the water, making it a wonderful place to visit in the summer. We love that our customers are a mix of both local residents and people who are visiting town on holiday.

Oxford is a lovely town all year, and in addition, its proximity to the water and focus on sailing and waterman’s culture makes it a destination for many different travelers, particularly in the summer. As the only coffee shop in the town, The Oxford Social is a popular destination for both the local community and visitors.

Tell us about yourself

Not only do we own the Oxford Social, but we also own the Scottish Highland Creamery, which is located in Oxford as well. Since the Scottish Highland Creamery is mostly a seasonal business, we thought it would make sense to open a complimentary business in town that could be open year-round and allow us to keep our team members engaged all year round. In addition, we saw the need for a “gathering space” in town. As mentioned above, there was no coffee shop in Oxford. As the population continued to grow, we thought the town could benefit from having one. We are motivated and inspired by our customers. They have been supportive of both businesses, and watching and listening to how they use the Oxford Social is gratifying. We feel as if we have made a large contribution to the Oxford community in terms of employment, professional growth, and creating special and inclusive social settings all year round -- and that is very gratifying.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

It is very gratifying to build a business from concept to a thriving business and to restore a historic building that means so much to the town and its residents. We’ve learned many lessons along the way. However, during these unprecedented times driven by the pandemic, our biggest accomplishment by far has been being able to navigate our businesses through the pandemic, which required rapid innovation, creative thinking, and an amazing team.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

One of the hardest things about being a small business owner – especially in the foodservice industry -- is finding team members that are as motivated, hard-working, and dedicated as you. We have built a wonderful core team that treats each other as a family and has been incredible to work with.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Make sure that the business you decide to open is one which you are really passionate about. You will be spending far more time than you ever thought on establishing and trying to grow the business. If it is not in a field you are passionate about, it could be very unpleasant.
  2. Find employees who can be the “face of the company,” empower and support them. You can’t be there 24/7, so you need to find people who represent you and the values of your business.
  3. Continue to innovate and find new products and new ways to grow. Growth – every year – is critical to long-term success, development opportunities for the team, and creating value.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://oxfordsocialcafe.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Oxford-Social-Cafe-577668676002859/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oxfordsocialcafe/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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