In a district known for its bars and late-night crowds, Coffee Pott Co. offers Aggieville a different kind of gathering place. Located on 11th Street, the business opened in August and combines coffee with hemp-derived cannabis products, providing another option for customers in the area. 

Owner Jason Todack said one of the reasons he opened Coffee Pott Co. was to give people alternatives to alcohol, particularly those that don’t enjoy the effects alcohol has on the body.

“People need to have other options than just alcohol,” Todack said. “You know, I understand Aggieville was set up for the college crowd to come in there and let loose on a Friday and Saturday night, but a lot of people, like myself, we don’t enjoy drinking.”

After only being open for a couple of months, the store has already seen customers visiting the store who don’t drink alcohol. 

“We have college kids that, no joke, all their friends are drunk and trashed,” Todack said. “When they come in, they just want to get like a five milligram drink so they can have a little fun themselves, because they don’t drink.”

The business also serves regular coffee, giving customers another reason to stop in beyond its hemp-derived products. Todack said some customers stop in for their standard morning coffee, while others choose to add hemp-derived cannabinoids to their drinks. Alongside its coffee, the business also offers herbal teas and other products through its apothecary section.

For regular customer James Couch, the appeal goes beyond what the business sells. 

“I think it brings people together,” Couch said.

Couch described Coffee Pott Co. as a friendly place where customers can find products they enjoy and feel comfortable while doing so. He also feels like there is nothing else like it in Manhattan. 

“It’s always a friendly place,” Couch said. “I think everybody should stop by here at least one time.” 

As Coffee Pott Co. continues to establish itself in Aggieville, Todack hopes to give people a place to enjoy themselves without feeling that alcohol has to be part of the experience.

“Everybody wants to have fun,” Todack said. “And you could be sober and have fun.” 

The shop has already begun to see more traffic, and Couch believes there will be even more to come. 

“I think once this hits off, I think everybody’s gonna come here,” Couch said.