Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Josselyn
Hi Hannah , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in a ski resort town in Vermont. From an early working age I always had 2 or 3 jobs so I felt that my work ethic was strong. I also grew up watching my parents run my dads contracting company out of our house so I got to see first hand how running a successful business wasn’t just a 9-5! Even through college I never felt like I was being pulled in any one direction. I was always known in my family as the “free spirit” and I think even into my late 20’s and 30’s that showed. Doing random jobs, never staying more than a year in one place.
I believe my love for coffee and the culture surrounding it came from when I was a barista for a hot second. I just loved tha atmosphere that a coffee shop can create. It wasn’t until 2021 when we started my husbands BBQ Food Truck company that I really realized that anything is possible and you just have to take that leap of faith. After a year or so with his company he pushed me to open up Reverie Coffee Trailer! I quit my job & I pursued this full time. In late 2023 I found out I was pregnant with our second child and I was due at the end of May 2024. I realized quickly that trying to hire and train someone to take over the trailer during the busiest time of the year would be really difficult & there are so many things that could go wrong in a trailer so we found a spot for a brick & mortar! This wasn’t part of the plan, not atleast for another few years but the timing just felt perfect. Crazy to think about opening an actual spot while pregnant with a 2 year old at home but I trusted the universe and went along for the ride. Now we are 8 months into Reverie Coffee House. Located on a busy main drag of a bustling artsy, college town I have 6 amazing employees and regulars who come in everyday who have become family! All my hopes and dreams Ive ever imagined in my coffee shop have come true!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think just like owning any business no matter how big or small you’re always going to have some set backs but I think facing those difficulties head on and surrendering to the universe knowing that everything happens for a reason and staying positive will benefit you! If Im being completely honest one of the most difficult parts about opening up the business has been having to take a step back so soon. We just opened our doors in January this year and I am now hardly at the shop given how pregnant I am. Normally especially small business owners will open up and work as much as they can to keep costs as low as possible. Mentally its just been really hard for me because within 3 months of opening Im having to take a step back to give birth and its during not only the busiest time of the year but also our first year so we don’t know what to expect. Thankfully I have found some absolutely amazing employees who are really whats keeping the business going. I feel so fortunate to have them!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Our slogan is “Sip and Wander” I always dreamed of opening a coffee shop that people could get lost in, escape lives craziness even just for a few minutes. A space where anyone and everyone who walks through the door feels welcomed and want to come back. Reverie literally means getting lost in ones daydreams which also felt very organic & right! I would say we specialize in everything coffee. The town we are located in doesn’t really have a coffee focused business on the main stretch so I felt also given the size of our space (500 square feet) that getting really good at the coffee would be whats best for the community. We have so much fun with it. Every season we offer 3-4 specialty drinks. Right now for the summer we have a blueberry ginger, white peach cardamom and a blackberry almond latte that can also be added to cold brew or other drinks. People love coming in and stepping out of their comfort zone!
We are proud to offer locally Maine roasted coffee from an amazing company in Biddeford Maine called Time & Tide Coffee! We also offer baked goods from local bakeries that get delivered multiple times a week so we are building those connections as well. And something we are most proud of is our market space where the majority of what we offer is local Maine goods made by local artists! I firmly believe in allowing a platform for artists to share their work with their community!
We are only in a 500 square foot space so its tiny but we’ve been able to maximize seating space as well as standing space for ordering. We have 2 lounge areas with comfy chairs and side tables as well as a bench area with tables and chairs that can fit up to 8 people! I believe something that set us apart is we have a gated kids area, its not the biggest but enough space for kids to go, play, be safe and the parents can sit and enjoy their coffee! Being a parent myself that was a BIG must for me and people have really enjoyed having it. The kids area has really set us apart & I believe one of my favorite things about the shop. We had a couple come up to me and tell me that their 11 month old son never independently plays but when they come here he does & they can sit, relax and enjoy their food & baked good!
I think out of everything we have already accomplished what I am most proud of is my team. I have been fortunate to find some amazing people who are not only passionate about coffee but also people! One of my biggest things when opening up Reverie was how we treated the customers. Ive gone into coffee shops and felt so unwelcomed not just by the staff but sometimes the aesthetic of the place. I really wanted to make the coffee shop feel welcoming and homey. And even more so I wanted my staff to treat everyone that walks through that door like they were family. Greeting them with a smile, small talk asking them about their day or how they are. We are setting the tone for all these peoples day and if we can make them feel welcome and happy then maybe they continue that energy onto others throughout their day. My staff has done a wonderful job at this, Ive had many regulars tell me when Im not there that they are amazing and that means the world especially when these days its so hard to find any employees let alone good, reliable ones.
I think with how fast paced everyones lives are these days, driving here, on the phone, social media that if we can create a space for them to feel comfortable and relax for alittle then thats what we will continue to do! Like I said its a small space but we intend to do workshops, pop up markets, book clubs and other things to bring the community together. We recently did a needle felt workshop & it was so lovely.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Right now we really only have social media. Our instagram is ( @reverie.coffeehouse) which we always welcome people to message us on, or even better tag us in a post and share about the shop! You can also google us & see pictures of the shop & read reviews!
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Jessica Webb Photography & Reverie Instagram