Sayler Park Coffee Shop opens: Owners say, 'Coffee is a unifying force'

Sayler Park residents, Ellen and Garrett Gerard believe coffee is a "unifying force" that brings communities together — one sip at a time.

The couple followed their belief and opened a vibrant coffee shop in the Sayler Park neighborhood. After a year-long process, the doors of Sayler Park Coffee Shop were opened to customers Thursday.

"We are thrilled that people finally get to come inside," Ellen Gerard said. "This is a really strong community where people want to show their support. As the world changes and becomes more digital, I still value face-to-face interactions with my neighbors. I know others do too."

One of the many purposes of the coffee shop, located at 6557 Gracely Drive, is to give back to the neighborhood, they said. While the couple will cover operating costs and payroll, their profits will be donated back to the community.

They also want to help revitalize and beautify the neighborhood's business district.

"When we moved here from Covington almost seven years ago, we were embraced by this neighborhood wholeheartedly," she said. "It's been life-changing for us and we want to be an extension of that hospitality to the people already here and whoever might be new like we were in the future."

Garrett, a Lexington, Ky native, built the cabinetry and tables to commemorate long-time Sayler Park resident Joseph Metzler. He said it's been a lot of work, but worth it.

The couple had the community and financial aspect down but needed a coffee professional and general manager to bring it home.

"We knew we needed to find someone like David Yundt who specializes in coffee," Gerard said. "He understands how to bring it all together."

Ellen said the couple always visited a coffee shop near their home in Covington, Kentucky. She missed the camaraderie with neighbors, so she decided it was time to share the joy.

"I was excited about living in Sayler Park," she said. "However, I was also worried that there wasn't a vibrant space for people to hang out with each other. It was my only hesitation when we moved here. I was like 'there's no coffee shop.' If we're getting rid of that hesitation for other people — that's great."