After a caffeinated burst of early word-of-mouth support, Brian Roberts’ new coffee and wine space near Tower East got a months-long jolt of good karma, he said — but as its newness cooled on the counter, the fledgling business began to lose its grip on thirsty customers.
“It was really tough, getting people to realize we are the real deal,” said Roberts, reflecting on the first few months at Good Karma Coffee. “I didn’t think it was going to be this hard. I think people are just now waking up in Year One. They’re like, ‘Wait a minute, this spot is really legit.’”
Shifting momentum back into Good Karma’s favor meant establishing the business beyond Roberts’ own personal and professional network — itself developed through years of community and retail cultivation as the founder of The Black Pantry. (That well-known venture is no-longer a standalone retail operation, and now falls under Good Karma’s brand.)…