Success Story,
Update –
Judy’s Java
Judy's
Java & Firehouse Cafe
215 North Street
Elkton, MD 21921
410-996-8648 - Phone
410-966-8958 - Fax
JudysJava@Comcast.net
www.JudysJava-FirehouseCafe.com
Judy’s Java has amicably traded hands from its creator Judy Hart to
its new owner/manager Kathy Wareham. Kathy and Judy, with help from
Harry Hammond of SCORE, made a smooth transfer in ownership. Kathy
kept the name Judy’s Java. And, Judy still stops by the café to chat with
Kathy and the customers and enjoys the cozy environment she created.
Kathy Wareham first came to the SBIC to discuss with Lera and Harry the
development of a business plan for an innovative food business concept.
Impressed with the amount of preparation and research she had put into her
plan, Harry would later say, “She had one of the best business plans I’ve
ever seen”. However, somewhere during the process of finalizing her
original business plan and going to the bank for financing, she was
convinced to look more closely at acquiring an existing business, Judy’s
Java, rather than pursuing her original concept. She discovered as we
already knew that…..
……bankers would much rather finance an existing
business than take a risk with
an untried business concept.
Kathy had a significant number of years in marketing within a corporate
environment which she has effectively used in marketing Judy’s Java. She
writes and emails a weekly newsletter that makes your mouth water with her
description of the latest coffee concoctions her “baristas” are creating and
makes you smile or giggle at her jokes and humorous quotes. She has extended
the hours open, added Friday night Open Mic and is scheduling writers for
book signings.
Recently she participated in an SBIC program as her form of “giving back” to
those who helped her. At this program she revealed two things about
herself. One didn’t surprise us---instead of playing with dolls, she used
to play businesswoman when she was a kid. The other revelation was a
surprise. She doesn’t drink coffee or tea!....these drinks are not
her passion. But, being a businesswoman is.
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