In just eight years, Mt. Airy's
High Point Café has earned a reputation for its high quality espresso, delicious baked goods and top-shelf customer service. Owner Meg Hagele opened the place in 2005. She had owned her own coffee shop in Seattle, and when she moved back home to Philly, she knew she wanted to stay in the bean business.
Restaurants from across Northwest Philly have long wanted to sell the café's products, but the small operation on Carpenter Lane, with its 100-square-foot kitchen, was too small for wholesale. Two years ago, owner Hagele decided she was tired of saying "no."
"Plus, I was getting restless," recalls Hagele. "I needed a new challenge."
The idea for High Point Wholesale was born. Hagele began looking for a facility to house the kitchen and serve as a wholesale hub while leaving the café operation on Carpenter Lane. She eventually found a space at 6700 Germantown Ave; ironically, she had looked at it years earlier and decided it didn't fit the bill. This time around, things fell into place.
"I was looking all throughout Germantown," says Hagele. "6700 Germantown immediately came to mind."
The building was slated to become a
Wingstop franchise, but when those plans fell through, High Point was able to secure the lease. Next came a capital campaign. After giving a presentation to customers who had expressed interest, Hagele raised an amazing $350,000 in private equity.
"The money has come from the customer base alone," she says. "I am very moved by the level of support."
Today, High Point Wholesale is in full design mode, with construction set to start soon. Hagele hopes to be up-and-running in January or February.
Source: Meg Hagele, High Point Cafe
Writer:
Greg Meckstroth