Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Fry.
Hi Kim, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 2019, Coffee On Raiford was born from the idea of bringing the Selma community together over a cup of coffee. Sister and brother team, Zena Rose-Hamilton and Jeff Hamilton, were determined to create a family-oriented establishment with a great product and an atmosphere of connection.
In June of 2016, Jim and Kim Fry moved from Greenville, NC to Selma, NC. They both fell in love with the people and the community. Wanting to get more involved with the community, Kim started participating in the Activate Selma which is a group of business owners and people within the community that are working together to better Selma. Their motto is “We don’t complain, we take action.”
In March 2025 the coffee shop came available for purchase. Jim and Kim realized that this was another opportunity to give back to a community that they loved being a part of; so they purchased the coffee shop. They had the same desire to continue building the community by using the coffee shop as a platform.. They are both Army Veterans who have experienced coffee from all over the world, and want to bring those experiences and knowledge to the shop. You will see Kim working in the shop as operator and barista, while Jim manages the behind-the-scenes operations.
Jim and Kim’s vision is to maintain a space that feels like your living room—where you can come in, grab a drink, sit, and share a conversation. We believe we are more than a coffee shop; we are a community.
Our Mission & Vision
At Coffee On Raiford, we believe that every cup of coffee tells a story, and our mission is to create an exceptional experience for every customer who walks through our doors. We are dedicated to serving high-quality beverages and food items while fostering a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. This commitment to excellence not only enhances customer satisfaction but also builds long-lasting relationships with our customers. We are here to build community with a cup of coffee and a conversation.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
We have had a couple challenges. The biggest challenge has been reassuring on regular customers that we weren’t coming in to completely change everything when we took over the operations. Things stayed the same and over the first year of ownership, we slowly made increment changes. We started off changing the coffee from non-organic over to an organic bean. We later made decor changes while getting our customers involved with the color choices of the wall and even helping in the seasonal drink menu choices.
The next challenge was when other coffee shops with kitchens came into the downtown area. We have had to adapt while keeping true to our mission and our belief systems. We know our coffee, we understand coffee, and because of these areas we are able to help our customers have a true coffee or tea experience. Which also means training our staff to understand all these things to. They are not just here making drinks serving pastries but that they know their craft.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are a small coffee shop that serves different types of coffee, teas, frappes, chai, and smoothies. All of our coffee is organic locally roasted in Holly Ridge, NC (Java Estate Roastery). We set ourself apart because we believe in serving you coffee that is consistent from barista to barista. We have tried to remove as many variables out of our process to ensure we are serving all of our drinks consistently.
I, Kim, love coffee. I joke with our customers that I am a “bougie” coffee drinker. I want to understand all the nuances of the process to making the coffee so I can ensure that the customer gets the best drink that they have just spent their hard earned money on. I also want to ensure that every person who walks through our doors gets seen, greeted, and treated like they are family/friends and that they feel like this is their home.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
We love our little town Selma. When we moved to Selma in 2016, there was not much to talk about. It was run down and not much to do. With the help of Activate Selma (local business and local residents) and their grassroots movement to make Selma a better place to live, the town is coming alive. We have about 85% of our buildings in the downtown area filled with businesses and restaurants. Our little town is growing at a significant rate, we love being apart of the growth and watching it come alive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.coffeeonraiford.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coffeeonraiford
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coffeeonraiford
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@CoffeeOnRaiford
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/coffee-on-raiford-selma?osq=Coffee+on+Raiford
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@coffee.on.raiford?_r=1&_t=ZP-97eOjNiX8rH
