Krankies Coffee is more than a place to get a cup of joe. It has served as a community hub in Winston-Salem for 13 years and is widely known for its freshly made baked goods, distinctive beer and wine lists, displays of works by local artists and live music performances.
“We try to support our community as much as we can,” said Mark Gravel, creative director at Krankies. “We have programs during the week like Monday night jazz and live music on the weekend. We’re definitely not the average coffee shop.”
But it all starts with the coffee.
“Cup quality supersedes everything,” Gravel said. “We source beans from smaller farms and select slower ripening varieties from higher elevations. That allows us to achieve the quality we desire.”
Krankies hangs its hat on specialty coffees from around the world, such as Finca Helvetia from El Salvador and Finca La Cascada from Nicaragua. Krankies’ house blends, which include Railhead Espresso and Boiler, are must-tries.
The crowd at Krankies represents all walks of life, but it definitely includes plenty of people who work, study and live in Wake Forest Innovation Quarter.
“Krankies is a perfect fit with our philosophy and the lifestyle that the Innovation Quarter is promoting,” said Eric Tomlinson, president of the Innovation Quarter. “Krankies’ proximity is a perk that we all enjoy.”
“Krankies was an early pioneer in the area by providing a great gathering place, and a platform for community groups and social capital building,” said Peter Marsh, a co-founder of Flywheel, the co-working innovation space located in the 525@vine building. “There is a lot of interaction between the Flywheel co-working community and what goes on at Krankies. And we go through at least two pounds of their coffee every week.”
The atmosphere is part of the draw at Krankies, which occupies part of an old warehouse building. A major renovation project currently under way and scheduled to be completed later this summer will alter that atmosphere somewhat, but the funky exposed-brick, post-industrial vibe will remain.
The biggest addition to Krankies will be a fully equipped kitchen. Once the renovation work is done, owners John Bryan, David Franklin and Mitchell Britt will introduce breakfast, lunch and bar menus featuring locally sourced produce and meats.
“We’ll serve food that matches the level of attention that goes into our coffee to give our customers the best experience possible,” Gravel said.
Sounds like another excellent reason to visit the more-than-coffee shop at the corner of East Third and Patterson.
For more information about Krankies, visit krankiescoffee.com or call +1.336.722.3016.
