Branch Street’s Campbell: A Season to Unplug, Innovate

Matt Campbell, co-owner of Branch Street Coffee, based in Boardman, is coming back strong. You can read more about his business and its contributions to Northeast Ohio coffee culture here.

What are some ways your business is rebounding from the effects of COVID-19?

Branch Street has been proactive from the start of this virus outbreak, and we plan to continue that route until we can safely resume normal operations. This also means we need to become more innovative in our operations. We have sourced several plexiglass barriers to protect our staff and guests, we have hand sanitizer available throughout the store, and we have clearly marked areas to order and to wait for the order completion. 

Additionally, we just released a new mobile app (“Branch Street Coffee,” available via iOS App Store and Google Play). This reimagines ordering, payment and pickup, and makes it completely touch-free. You can order on the app, skip the line and pick up your drink without any hassle. We should have done this far sooner!

What’s been the reaction from customers so far?

One of the best parts of Branch Street has been our community. We are fortunate to have people who couldn’t wait for us to get back open and were sending us words of encouragement even while we were closed in March and April. Most of our regular people have become friends over the last five years, and the store itself has become somewhat of a social hub in that time.

What impact has the outbreak had on you personally?

The outbreak has been incredibly stressful for everyone, but we felt the added pressure and responsibility of ensuring that our baristas were going to be physically and fiscally safe as well. Trying to jump through all the hurdles and regulatory burdens of the emergency funding programs, and trying to help our staff file unemployment correctly was a huge stressor for us. In the end, it all worked well and we could relax, but it was a frustrating path to get there. 

What advice are you sharing with the people you love?

We all tend to get wrapped up in the constant barrage of information and updates. Once we saw that the virus was among us and it was a reality, I killed my social media, and we actually cut our cable too. When we needed updates, we could log in to our computers, or re-enable our social media. The truth is, not much significantly changed from day to day, so taking these steps resulted in less chaos, and I was more focused. Even today, my social media has taken a FAR back seat. I would encourage everyone to do the same, even if it is only for a few days or a week. It is great for your disposition and mental health.