Mobile coffee trailer targets late June opening

A longtime photographer is making a career shift with the planned opening later this month of a mobile coffee business.

Daddy’s Coffee & Sweets LLC owner Shannon Alexander said he has an inspection soon with the Springfield-Greene County Health Department that should be the last hurdle before launching his new venture. If all goes well with the inspection, he said the coffee trailer should be open prior to month’s end.

Alexander said he is still scouting locations as a place to set up shop, adding it would be advantageous to largely stay in one spot most of the time.

“But it is a mobile shop, and I do intend on doing events and things of that nature,” he said, noting those appearances would mostly be on weekends. “I don’t particularly feel like there’s much of a need for me to even leave the city of Springfield. So, I’m going to try to find a good spot and stick with it as long as I can.” 

Startup costs will be roughly $30,000, he said, adding he will have two baristas on staff in addition to himself.

While Alexander has owned Shannon Alexander Photography for about 20 years, he said maintaining that is probably not in the plans. At least for now, he does intend to continue his work as a personal assistant for an individual with autism through Acumen Fiscal Agent LLC, a disability services and support organization headquartered in Mesa, Arizona.

Alexander said owning a coffee shop has been on his short list of business ventures he’d be interested in pursuing for years. After driving by a mobile coffee shop recently, he finally decided to take the chance.

“It was very fleeting and very impulsive,” he said with a laugh.

The menu for Daddy’s Coffee & Sweets will include a mix of hot and cold drinks, including espressos, frappes, lattes, loose leaf and iced tea and Italian soda. It will also feature cinnamon rolls locally made by Breadsmith, while Battlefield-based Copper Canyon Coffee Roasters will supply coffee beans and syrups, Alexander said.

“One of the main focuses of my outward branding is going local as much as I can,” he said.

Alexander admits to a mix of anxiety and excitement as opening day approaches.

“The people that I’ve interacted with on social media have been super responsive and supportive,” he said. “It’s been pretty cool and I’m excited to see how it works out.”