Locally Owned Coffee Shop Started By Neighbors At Landsdowne Centre

FRANCONIA, VA — Two neighbors who live close to the Landsdowne shopping center are now the owners of a new coffee shop. The locally owned Coffee In opened a few weeks ago and will celebrate its grand opening this Saturday at 6432 Landsdowne Centre Drive in Alexandria.

Co-owner Leyla Khater told Patch she has lived in Landsdowne for 10 years and also owns The Red Wagon Learning Center at the shopping center. Khater said there has been a need for a coffee shop in the area.

"I always wanted to do something close to home in Landsdowne," Khatar said.

A former teacher, Khater got involved in entrepreneurship through her family, who own businesses such as the Tropical Smoothie Cafe at Landsdowne Centre. She met her business partner, Gulay Gotz, while walking in her neighborhood. After finding out they were both Turkish immigrants, Khater started discussing the coffee shop idea and asked Gotz to be the manager.

Coffee In serves coffee from Cervantes Coffee Roasters in the Newington/Springfield area. Aside from offering traditional drinks such as lattes and Americanos, Coffee In offers different drink options such as a mango-lade, passion fruit green tea, and hibiscus elderberry green tea. The menu also celebrates the owners' heritage with Turkish coffee offerings.

Drinks can be paired with pastry options from a local bakery or Coffee In's signature waffsicle — a waffle on a stick. Khater's own students at Red Wagon Learning Center came up with the name and tested out toppings before it debuted at Coffee In.

That's not the only kid-approved menu item. Khater's own daughter came up with a lemonade flavor to add to the menu.

For Khater, it is rewarding for their children to see how a business is run.

"I feel like we are modeling to our children, our next generation, how to be a go-getter," said Khater.

Upon opening, Khater has observed support from the community, even from people she didn't know before. She believes customers are more conscious of supporting small businesses after seeing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It means so much. It is empowering especially coming after the two years we had," Khater said about starting a business as female entrepreneurs.

As a former teacher, Khater wants to show support for schools and Teachers Appreciation Week, which runs Monday through Friday. The business is donating coffee and pastries to Island Creek Elementary School to show its appreciation. In addition, customers can pay $3 to buy a coffee for a teacher and leave a note for the teacher through Teachers Appreciation Week.

The business will celebrate its grand opening Saturday, including a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. with Lee District Supervisor Rodney Lusk. The Fairfax County Police Department's Franconia Station will host its Coffee with a Cop from 9 a.m. to noon at Coffee In. There will also be glitter art tattoos from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., drink sampling, a 20 percent discount, and performance by the Hayfield Tri-M Music Honor Society at the grand opening.

As a resident in Landsdowne, Khater appreciates the sense of community. She hopes the community support can extend to her business.

"We're all living in the same neighborhood," said Khater. "We all know each other. We say hi. It just feels like everybody is just neighborly."

Hours for Coffee In are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends.