LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A sports-themed coffee shop was the perfect marriage of two of Rob Arnold's passions.
"I played college football at Iowa State for a year, and so sports to me is just natural," he said. "And I love coffee."
Over the last few years, Arnold, a Navy veteran, had worked on bringing his vision to life. But one thing he did not have in his initial business plan was to open in the middle of a pandemic.
"I got my first round of financing the week before quarantine happened so it was one of those things where it was like, 'All right, this is what we're going to do,'" he said.
More than 30 restaurants have closed their doors for good so far in 2020 with many citing the challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic in their decision to close. But the pandemic has not stopped other entrepreneurs, including Arnold, from launching new businesses. More than 40 spots have opened this year, including Arnold's shop, Pregame Coffee, and more are slated to open in the second half of 2020.
"I really think that opening a business during a pandemic, don't be too scared to do it. Weather the storm, as we used to say in the Navy. Weather the storm," he said. "Don't think that you can do it alone. Establish good partnerships with other people that have been through it that can help guide you. And really do your homework."
Arnold said the early feedback to Pregame Coffee, which opened Friday, have been positive. He said many people have told him his fusion of the coffee shop atmosphere with the sports bar entertainment is a welcome addition to the NuLu community.
"Just yesterday I had some medical and dental students come down and do some studying because they didn't want to go to a sports bar," he said. "They wanted to watch the US Open but they also wanted some coffee."
Pregame Coffee is now open at 723 E Main St, Louisville, KY 40202.
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