photo by: Emma Delk
Mugshots barista Melody Petras prepares orders on Monday, the opening day of the coffee shop’s new Moundsville location.
A staple Wheeling coffee shop has branched out from its original location and opened the doors at a second location in Moundsville at 524 Seventh St.
Mugshots owner Grant Coleman said the motivation behind the second location was the large number of regular customers from Moundsville who frequented the Wheeling location. He noted one regular would “constantly” say Coleman needed to open a shop in Moundsville.
“We have so many other regular customers that come from down this way, so we felt like it was a good move for us,” Coleman said. “We already have some built-in regulars based on the fact that we already had a following down this way.”
Coleman added that the Moundsville building’s location would also draw in customers, as it is near county and city buildings and local law and accounting offices.
“The building is basically in a neighborhood and on the way to the (Grave Creek) Mound and the (West Virginia) Penitentiary,” Coleman said. “I don’t think I could’ve picked a better spot.”
Coleman began preparing the space for move-in six months ago. While originally planning to purchase the building, Coleman said renting from owner Jason Frohnapfel has “worked out for the best.”
Coleman noted that Frohnapfel and his wife, Marshall County Administrator Besty Frohnapfel, had done an “amazing job” preparing the space, including finishing the floors and ceiling and preparing the chandeliers.
“I really wanted to own whatever building I was moving to for the next location, but this takes a little bit off my plate and gives me less to worry about,” Coleman noted. “Jason and Betsy did such an amazing job with the space. All I had to do was build the bar and figure out everything else move-in-wise.”
Moundsville City Manager Rick Healy said the building had been vacant for “some time” after its former occupant, Home Electric, closed its doors in the 2000s.
“I think it’s a perfect location with the courthouses and numerous attorney offices on the street,” Healy said. “If there’s one thing that people have asked for over the last few years, it’s been a coffee shop. We’re excited to have any new business in Moundsville, but this is especially exciting with the great success they’ve had in Wheeling.”
Scott Reager, Marshall County Chamber of Commerce executive director, said Mugshots had the benefit of being a specialty shop that would serve as a nice attraction for visitors in the area.
“It’s going to be a great place for people to get the jump start on the day for sure,” Reager said. “I think it will do very well.”
The Moundsville location’s menu will offer the same coffee, lunch and breakfast items as the Wheeling location. Coleman said a couple of specialty drinks to “pay tribute” to Moundsville were in the works and would be added to the menus at both locations.
Coleman said the response to the new location since its soft opening last Monday was “much better” than he expected. He said there was a “trickle” of customers on the first day, but after word spread on social media about the location, the shop was “crushed” with business.
“We posted something on Tuesday on social media about opening up in Moundsville, and that post blew up with over 70,000 views,” Coleman said. “That next Wednesday was insane. We were packed all day long.”
Coleman added Moundsville residents had been “very welcoming” so far, including popping in to tell him “thank you” for opening up in the city.
“I’m excited for this location, I think it’s going to do as well as the Wheeling location, if not better,” Coleman said. “I just want to make sure that things stay stable here for a little while, and then we’ll decide where we’ll go next.”