For Kris Krupa and Mandi Fullwood, a caffeine boost isn’t just a great way to start the day. It was so instrumental to the daily operations of their Heritage on Main Street restaurant that they brewed up a plan to start a coffee shop to keep both enterprises running strong. 

“It's really hard to run a restaurant that's open most of the day if there's no coffee available,” explained Fullwood. “I told him, even if we never made a dime selling coffee, it's still cheaper than your coffee habit because you can't go and just get coffee for yourself when you're at work. You have to offer everyone else a little something.”

Krupa was doing some design work in downtown Waynesboro when he learned the building that would become Heritage on Main Street was available and asked to see the space. He and Fullwood had experience working in restaurants and had reached a point where Kris was looking to strike out on his own.

“I saw the two businesses as a support network more than something you have to sustain,” added Krupa. “You’re co-branding and assist each other with whatever is needed, whether it's staffing or toilet paper or coffee or whatever. It's a stabilizer, not a detractor.”

Heritage on Main Street had been a downtown destination for great food for the first six years of operation when they closed for a remodel. The restaurant struggled a bit after the reopening, and they had just gotten their legs underneath them when COVID hit in 2020. The need for reduced capacity and transition to carry out made it challenging to move forward.

The Waynesboro Economic Development Authority (EDA) stepped in with a total of $7,500 in loans to help get both businesses back on track. The funding enabled Kris to invest in a new point of sale system and set up online ordering for the coffee shop.

Services like DoorDash and Grubhub weren’t really prevalent in the area at the time, so it took a lot of backend programming to get those ordering options in place and promote curbside pickup because people weren't coming in the door. 

“Many of those challenges were unique at that time, but everyone was going through the same thing,” said Fullwood. “How do you continue to get your name and product out if you stay operational? What hours will employees work? Do we want to have you come in if we're not sure how the day will go once you get here?”

Though the couple later closed the restaurant, that move was only the end of one chapter for these entrepreneurs. The French Press coffee shop is still going strong, offering a variety of food items and the perfect spot to work or meet with some friends.

Krupa and Fullwood also own several nearby properties that they have developed for new tenants. Those activities not only generate profits for the business but also support long-term growth in the downtown area.

“We're all neighbors,” said Krupa. “Some of them park in your driveway and some pick up your packages and let you know they were dropped off, but they're still your neighbors one way or the other.

“Waynesboro seems to be a market that is willing to get behind and support new ideas. It's like they've been waiting for things to happen, and innovation is welcomed. I think it's the biggest attraction for Waynesboro.”