Just Love Coffee to open in downtown Tuscaloosa

A new coffee option for downtown Tuscaloosa will host its grand opening celebration this weekend.

Just Love Coffee, founded in 2009 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is coming to the former space of O’Henry’s Coffees in the Downtown Rock Point development at the corner of Lurleen Wallace Boulevard North and University Boulevard.

O'Henry's Coffees of Birmingham, which was the first business to open a franchise in the mixed-use development in 2016, closed last year after the ongoing Lurleen Wallace Boulevard construction limited its ability to attract customers.

“Things just happen sometimes,"  said O'Henry's Coffees owner Randy Adamy in August 2019, "and you kind of lick your wounds, put your tail between your legs and leave town.”

Now, the space will be filled by a new Just Love Coffee franchise that will be owned and managed by University of Alabama graduates Jack and Alex Roberts.

"Alex and I know and love this town for all it has given us over the years," Jack Roberts said. "It’s phenomenal. It’s growing rapidly and we love the excitement in the community.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to serve and give back to this community.”

The brothers were influenced in their entrepreneurial and giving spirit through from their late father, from whom they took the inspiration to develop their Just Love Coffee franchise.

“We hold true to our love for God, family, Crimson Tide football, and, of course, coffee,” the brothers said in a press release announcing the business. “In everything we do we hope to carry on his legacy through the service our cafe provides.”

Three days of festivities will start this Saturday and Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., include special giveaways, games and coffee as a means to allow customers to experience firsthand what the shop has to offer.

On Sunday, the Just Love Coffee will be hosting a coffee-fueled fundraising effort in partnership with the Junior League Tuscaloosa allowing customers to help support the organization that serves the local community.

“Giving back to our community is a core value of our company and our own personal beliefs,” Jack Roberts said.

On Monday, the three-day celebration wraps up with a special breakfast with Mayor Walt Maddox that will conclude with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Founded as an e-commerce business offering fundraising solutions for adopting families and non-profit organizations, Just Love Coffee opened its first brick-and-mortar shop in 2011.

The company now has more than 20 locations opened or currently under development across the Southeastern and Midwestern United States.

In Tuscaloosa, the coffee shop intends to blur the lines between a modern, fast-casual dining experience and a specialty coffee shop with food and hand-brewed coffee and tea drinks in a relaxed setting meant to encourage quality time with family and friends.

The cafe offers signature lattes such as the Cha-Cha, Toffee Coffee, White Chocolate Tiramisu and Nitro Coffee besides the regular coffee favorites.

The Tuscaloosa location also will feature all-day breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu items including signature entrees such as the Womelette, Jive Turkey, Bacon Tater, Strawberry Spinach Salad and Grilled Italian Caprese, to name a few.

More information is available at www.JustLoveCoffeeCafe.com.

“Just Love Coffee was founded to make a positive impact on the world and Alex and Jack, as did their father, embody that goal to the fullest,” said Rob Webb, founder of Just Love Coffee. “We can’t wait to see all the amazing good their team is going to do in Tuscaloosa.”

Just Love Coffee is at 2531 University Blvd., Suite 100.

Reach Jason Morton at jason.morton@tuscaloosanews.com.