Move over, Starbucks? Make way, Dunkin”™? While knocking these longtime stalwarts out of the ring may be next to impossible, Bad Ass Coffee Co. has made its New York debut in Wappingers Falls and the shop is gaining attention if not for its Kona coffee than for its eye-catching trademark.
John Ferrara, who grew up with Jill Johnston in Brewster, asked her if she”™d be interested in going into the coffeehouse business, which has more than 30 locations from the U.S. to Malaysia.
Ferrara, who owns his own mortgage company, and Johnston, a bartender at Molly Darcy”™s in Danbury, agreed to become partners in the Wi-Fi friendly, tropically decorated coffeehouse, with a donkey (hence, the name “Bad Ass”) kicking up its heels as the franchise”™s logo.
Johnston said she was thrilled but “a little nervous” when Ferrara approached her about joining him in the franchise business. “John needed a partner ”“ and I wanted to own my own business. There wasn”™t another Bad Ass Coffee in New York, and we both liked the business model and the idea of bringing something new to New York.”
Ferrara and Johnston both took turns traveling to Utah for training. “You learn to run the front end, the back, steam milk, hire and train staff and deal with employee issues ”“ all within one intense week,” Johnston said. The pair took turns so they could benefit from maximum immersion in the business.
The Wappingers Falls store has six employees, with Johnston running the daytime shift and Ferrara taking over in the late afternoon. “Business has been awesome ”“ and we”™ve been reeling. We had a soft opening at the end of May. We didn”™t want to overwhelm ourselves or our employees.”
The franchise is known best for its Hawaiian Kona coffee, the only coffee grown in the U.S. “The franchises have the same décor,” Johnston said. “Palm trees, tropical motifs ”“ and of course, the Bad Ass donkey. Coffee menus have the company”™s signature Kona coffee and other blends, and we are allowed to be flexible with the menu.” The 2,000-square-foot store offers a drive through at its Route 9 location.
Bad Ass Coffee”™s website lists the total cost of a typical franchise as approximately $212,000, with a $35,000 suggested down payment. Add another $13,000 for a drive-through.
Although they”™ve gone into business, both continue to commute from their current homes and businesses:Â Johnston from Danbury and Ferrara from Cornwall-on-Hudson. “We are both within a few minutes of I-84, so commuting isn”™t a big issue for either of us. And yes, when we aren”™t at work, we are spending all our time here.
“We”™re both excited about the company”™s potential and the Route 9 location in Wappingers Falls is a good place to be,” Johnston said.  “It”™s a growing area and there is a lot of business here. We”™ve already gotten off to a great start, and expect it to get even better.”
