A locally owned and operated coffee shop is aiming to be more than just a place to stop for breakfast on the way to work.

Bittersweet Coffeehouse and local store, Southern Company, opened their storefront last year at 2001 7th Avenue in Huntington.

The locally owned businesses strive to bring new experiences and opportunities to the community, not only through their stores, but also in the events that they hold.

A Southern Company is a boutique that sells jewelry, home décor, clothing, art, furniture handmade items and much more. The boutique frequently offers organic, recycled and natural products for its customers.

Bittersweet Coffeehouse, located next door to a Southern Company, offers a variety of beverage options.

Bittersweet serves premium coffee, using third wave techniques, as well as serving a traditional espresso. Bittersweet boasts a variety of teas, Italian sodas and organic smoothies for those guests who do not like coffee.

This week, Bittersweet Coffeehouse will host Coffee 101: History and Origins, a class that will also touch on coffee around the world and include a coffee tasting.

Coffee 101 will be taught by Bittersweet’s lead barista, Brandon Nylund, physics major at Marshall University. The class costs $5 and will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15.

“We want to heighten our awareness,” Bridgette Kidd, assistant manager at both Bittersweet Coffeehouse and a Southern Company, said. “Let people know where they can get their best cup of coffee in Huntington.”

Later in the week, Bittersweet will also host “The Reunion”, a weekend-long party to celebrate the opening of their deck and urban garden.

The party kicks off Friday with “Yappy Hour”, a special event that invites guests to bring their dogs with them to the coffeehouse to enjoy treats for both pets and people from 4-6 p.m. Friday night also includes an art crawl and deck party.

The events continue through the weekend with brunch on Saturday morning, a yoga class on Sunday and a community prayer and meditation walk on Monday the 21st. The events will also include local acts, giveaways and beverages from Bittersweet and a Southern Company. Details about these events can be found on the Bittersweet Coffeehouse Facebook page.

“We’re providing ways that people can feel creative and have an outlet in the community,” Kidd said.

A Southern Company has also become a place for local music acts to perform. The store recently added a small stage inside to accommodate performers for open mic nights. The next open mic night takes place Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. Musical acts interested in performing should arrive at 6 p.m. to sign up.

Kidd thinks that these events and both stores can make an impact around town. “We’re trying to be innovative and bring new things to Huntington,” Kidd said.

MacKenzi Kyle can be contacted at [email protected]