Exploring Life & Business with Katie Kilgore of Fount Coffee + Kitchen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Kilgore

Hi Katie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
We are two local families that came together with a shared vision and passion for great coffee, food, and hospitality. We initially met in 2015, quickly became great friends, put together a business plan, and opened the doors of Fount in December of 2018.

We recognized the need that existed in the Morrisville/RTP community for both specialty coffee and a community gathering space and we sought to meet this need in an intentional way.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Owning a small business (especially through COVID) has been altogether a joyful yet humbling and refining experience. We will be the first to testify however that the difficult times produce growth, resilience, and a humble posture and perspective, which the value of cannot be overstated. Each season brings its own challenges. The early days began with the initial writing of a business plan and acquiring an SBA loan which definitely was not an easy task. Once the doors of Fount opened, we worked crazy hours to operate the cafe and were both exhilarated and exhausted by the uphill climb of managing a restaurant, our team members, and perfecting our craft whether we be on the line in the kitchen, pulling shots as a barista, washing dishes, or engaging with guests at the register. COVID of course brought its own set of challenges but we are grateful for the ways it forced us to quickly get innovative and the opportunities it led us to explore such as online ordering and curbside pick up which we continue to have available today.

Perhaps our greatest resource in facing the ever evolving challenges at Fount has been to face these hard decisions, conversations, and happenings in unity – together. Our partnership (the four owners) has been an invaluable gift in navigating the uncertainties of small business ownership.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Fount Coffee + Kitchen is a specialty coffee shop and cafe located in Morrisville, NC, neighboring Research Triangle Park. We take great pride in the quality of what we serve as well as the way we serve it – hospitality. We are known for offering and preparing some really exceptional coffees alongside a food menu that is gluten free and crafted from ingredients that are clean (fresh, mostly organic, no seed oils, etc!) and nutrient dense. One of the things that truly sets us apart is our team. We are fortunate to work alongside a group of talented individuals who care deeply about their craft and about guest experience. Our mission that we “stack hands on” is to always serve in a way that is intentional, excellent, and joyful knowing our efforts bear a lasting impact. And truly this mission fleshes out in every day, every shift, every team member and I believe this is what ultimately sets us apart. We are meticulous and care about details whether it be polishing flatware, preparing a pour over, or prepping fresh produce. We are pursuing perfection in everything from presentation and plating to crafting recipes and cleaning our bathrooms. And finally, our disposition and the way we see and approach the guest experience is one of deep gratitude and joy. We believe it’s a gift to serve and work doesn’t have to be burdensome but can be deeply meaningful and also fun! We consider it a great joy to serve one another and every guest that walks through our doors. We are proud of the way our team is making a profound difference.

Our goal is to ultimately disrupt the fast casual and coffee shop industries in providing a new, elevated standard for guest experience, workplace culture, and menu offerings. In other words, we care, a lot. Every guest is our esteemed guest. Every dish is scratch made and an extension of what we would serve you if you were a guest in our own homes. Every cup of coffee has been crafted with great care – down to a science really and considering every possible variable. We read and respond to every review we receive and our management team makes a point to sit down with every team member regularly asking questions like “How can we better serve you? How can we better serve our guests?” Again, we believe this posture of humility is crucial for success. We’re better together.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
At risk of sounding redundant, enter into business with great humility and stay that way. Learn how to give, receive, and implement feedback well. Establish a brand that connects with people and speaks to their greatest need: People desire to be known, seen, cared for. Regardless of the industry you are in, there is always an opportunity to serve the person in front of you. Let the quality of both your product and service make clear the value and dignity you place on the person in front of you (the guest) and the person alongside you (the team member). Finally, get creative (and radical!) in pursuing hospitality. One great book our team has read and returned to is “Unreasonable Hospitality” by Will Guidara. In Guidara’s words: “Intention means every decision, from the most obviously significant to the seemingly mundane, matters. To do something with intentionality means to do it thoughtfully, with clear purpose and an eye on the desired result.” to which we at Fount emphatically agree.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fountcoffee.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/fountcoffee