LOUDONVILLE — The smell of freshly roasted coffee now drifts from a new stop along State Route 3.
At the edge of Mohican’s winding roads, where hikers lace up their boots and cyclists head toward the trails, Evergreen Coffee Roastery and Café invites travelers and locals alike to slow down and settle in.
Inside the Hemlock Inn, Evergreen Coffee opened this month ahead of its grand opening next weekend.
Evergreen Coffee is located at 940 S. Market St. The shop is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. The café is closed Mondays.
Owners Taylor and Leigh Ann Runge said the café is more than a new business. It’s a dream the couple first talked about years ago at the very beginning of their relationship.
“On our first date, we talked about owning a hostel and coffee shop someday,” Leigh Ann said.
The Runges began roasting coffee in 2015. They sold beans at farmers markets near Columbus before moving to Montana. They returned to Loudonville during the pandemic to raise their family and purchased The Hemlock Inn. They always envisioned adding a coffee shop.
The Hemlock Inn has welcomed guests for five years. Earlier this year, the couple decided it was finally time to turn an unused space into the coffee shop they had always wanted.
An open house celebrating the grand opening and the Hemlock Inn’s fifth anniversary is set for noon to 2 p.m. next Saturday.
The Runges aren’t trying to build another grab-and-go coffee shop. They want Evergreen Coffee to be a place where someone can settle in with a book, catch up with a friend and play a board game for those willing to linger a little longer.
“We want people to appreciate how nice it can be to come in, sit down with a cup of coffee, read a book, talk to a friend and just be intentional,” Taylor Runge said.
Their philosophy carries over into the coffee itself.
The Runges roast all of their coffee in Loudonville using specialty-grade beans sourced from around the world, including Brazil, Indonesia, Africa and Central America.
Their goal is to highlight the natural flavors of each origin. Taylor Runge said they source beans from small farms that use sustainable growing practices.
Some Loudonville residents may already know their business from the couple’s mobile trailer. They served drinks at local events including the Loudonville Farmers Market and the Mohican Christkindlmarkt.
The menu features traditional espresso drinks. Plans are already underway to expand their selection with coffee flights, additional single-origin espresso and a ceremonial Japanese matcha experience in partnership with Gnat and Bee in downtown Loudonville.
Bakehouse at Maple Lake pastries in Mansfield accompany the drinks. Future plans include breakfast burritos and sandwiches made with ingredients sourced from area farms.
The café also complements the growing outdoor destination surrounding the Hemlock Inn. Guests staying overnight can walk just a few steps for coffee in the morning, and visitors renting electric bikes from neighboring Bear Bait Bike & Board can stop in before or after exploring Mohican.
The owners said creating a welcoming space for both tourists and local residents has been one of the most rewarding parts of opening the café.
“I’m excited to have the coffee shop feel like part of the community,” Leigh Ann said.
The grind does not stop for the Runges — roasting beans behind the scenes and serving customers from The Hemlock Inn. They hope Evergreen Coffee becomes a place where locals and visitors can pause before the next adventure, or simply enjoy a cup of coffee.
Knox Community Hospital proudly supports the vibrant pulse of our community by sponsoring the Life & Culture section on Knox Pages, celebrating the stories and experiences that make our region unique.
