LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Customers can expect to feel a sense of community when they walk inside Blak Koffee in the Russell neighborhood.
Ronyale Smith, owner and founder of Blak Koffee said customers are always greeted with "welcome to Blak Koffee or welcome back to Blak Koffee."
It's known as the place "where coffee, culture & business meet."
"I envisioned a place west of Ninth Street that is in the community, for the community, and just like a hub for business people," Smith said.
She said the outpouring of support has been overwhelming in their short time as a business. They have been open for less than a year, and Blak Koffee is already expanding to a second location at 28th and Broadway inside the West Louisville Opportunity Center.
"Now to be able to have a place even further west Louisville for the community it's amazing and then what better place than the Opportunity Center," Smith said.
It's second location will also be strategically located right next to the new west Louisville hospital, with an estimated exposure to 50,000 people a year.
"We're extremely excited we had actually interviewed a lot of possibilities to be able to provide the food source that we promised to the community," said Rena Sharpe, chief operating officer at Goodwill Industries of Kentucky.
Blak Koffee was a perfect fit since it already has a huge presence in Russell.
Sharpe said, "the coffee was amazing and I though 'hey would you like to open a second location.'"
Just feet away on Broadway more developments are being built.
"Obviously the entrepreneurial spirits alive but it's now manifesting itself to reality," said Senator Gerald Neal of district 33.
Neal said he is happy to see more jobs and opportunities coming to Louisville's west end, "but to see the investment and the reinvestment that's taking place, that's good."
As for Smith and her Blak Koffee business, she's anticipating to serve the community at higher heights.
"In this I trust God and we're going to go forward," said Smith.
The grand opening for the West Louisville Opportunity Center will be March 20 at 10 a.m.
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