For most of us, the snooze button is our best friend.  Who doesn’t want ten more minutes before jumping out of bed to start a busy day?

Dean Cox, for one.

“I can’t wait for the sun to rise so I can see my people at Chestnut,” he says with total and complete sincerity.

In the two years since his daughter and son-in-law, Brandi and Jon Ward, opened Chestnut Coffee House on Rocky Slope, Dean has become the face of the business. Whether you’re there for your first cup of the morning, a midday pick-me up, or an afternoon reward for making it through the day, you’re likely to find him greeting customers at their least caffeinated.

“The most rewarding part of being at the coffee shop,” he says, “is making people smile.”

Brandi realizes how lucky she is to have her dad work for Chestnut Coffee House.

“First, having my Dad here is a relief!”  she says.  “I know that he is taking care of things the same way I would.  More importantly, though, is the fact that Dad just loves people and thrives off of the relationships he builds with them.  The kids love him and bypass everything to go say hi to Mr. Dean.  He really just loves on people, which makes all the difference in the atmosphere here at the shop.”

The role as Chestnut’s official greeter was not part of Dean’s original career plan.   When he and his wife, Cindy, sold their event venue, The Loom, he was enjoying retirement, but Cindy was anxious to keep busy.  When The Wards opened Chestnut Coffee House, Cindy saw an opportunity to remain productive, and Brandi convinced her dad to join them.

“I was thinking about slowing down, but Brandi said, ‘Not so fast, Dad,’” Dean explains.  “I was soon called into duty as the Ice Cream Man of Chestnut.  I love the way the employees and I have the chance to change customers’ days for the better every day. The kids know who to see for lollipops, and their parents say we have the best coffee around.  The family atmosphere here is exactly what Brandi envisioned when she opened Chestnut Coffee House.”

Regular customers at Chestnut Coffee House know to expect the best coffee drinks, made with Methodical coffee and handmade syrups using organic ingredients.  The menu items you’ll find at Chestnut Coffee House are more inline with a traditional coffee shop.

 

“While we make sweet coffee drinks, we’re not a dessert-type coffee shop,” Brandi says.  “Because of the way we make our shots, our coffees are never bitter and never sour.  It's just a good balance.  We make hot and iced teas using our syrups, and our pastry menu changes seasonally, although gluten-free scones, cinnamon rolls, and breakfast burritos are staples.  Right now, my favorite coffee is a Caffè Americano with lavender syrup in the morning and a honey-rosemary latte in the afternoon.”

 

Her dad’s go-to?

“My favorite combo is a cup of Chestnut Blend and one of our scones,” Dean says.

That’s exactly the kind of energy he needs for his time away from Chestnut Coffee House.

When he can pry himself away from his beloved customers, you’ll find Dean pursuing his two passions: bass fishing on his boat, “Reel Bass Chasers,” and Clemson University athletics.  He’s always up for a bass fishing tournament, but his great joy is introducing the sport to families who have never caught a fish.

“The smile on a kid’s face when he catches his first fish is what it’s all about,” he says.

And when it comes to Clemson sports, there’s no bigger fan than Dean Cox.  His alter-ego is known simply as The Hat.

“To become The Hat, I simply put on my big orange cowboy hat that I bought at an estate sale 13 years ago.  It’s covered in championship pins that I’ve collected over the years.  The Hat attends every game, posing with fans for pictures and selfies. And at a game, The Hat never misses a chance to visit children or folks sitting in handicapped seating at the stadium.”

Dean hopes you’ll pay him a visit at Chestnut Coffee House for one of the menu’s unique coffees, a delicious pastry, or an ice cream.  He’ll definitely be glad to see you.

“I just love my Chestnut people!”

Chestnut Coffee House
325 Rocky Slope Road, Unit 101
Greenville, SC 29607
Facebook: Chestnut Coffee House + Local Market
Instagram: Chestnut_Coffeehouse_Market