In 2016, Alex Tchekmeian and Iain Yeakle teamed up to co-found Foxtail Coffee Co. Yeakle had been a coffee roaster for many years while Tchekmeian worked on developing a number of businesses in the Orlando area. Through Tchekmeian’s travels, he had been to many coffee shops throughout North America and wanted to bring Orlando a coffee shop that was on the cutting edge of the craft convenience model offering premium quality coffee that was still accessible.
It was in November 2016 that the team developed the idea for Foxtail Coffee Co., originally thinking of opening one or so units. Now, Tchekmeian and Yeakle have opened 11 Foxtail Coffee shops with Lake Nona’s location being the 12th shop to open.
Foxtail Coffee Co. is not your typical coffee shop, though. Rather than purchasing coffee beans that are roasted by wholesale roasting companies, Foxtail Coffee Co. owns and operates the equipment that produces the coffee. They work with local farmers around the world to bring in top quality coffee beans, and they work to create different combinations of beans that make up their cold brews. Everything is sourced responsibly and roasted in-house.
Foxtail Coffee Co. differentiates themselves by making cold brew in-house, most of which is nitro and on tap. They offer a variety of everyday flavors and seasonal flavors for guests to enjoy. There is a ton of flexibility and a variety of options for guests to choose from in terms of their coffee drinking experience. Plus, Foxtail Coffee Co. offers a unique and consistent atmosphere at each of their retail locations.
Each store aims to have a warm, comfortable, industrial and rustic feeling to it. This theme is something that they have intentionally kept up in each location that they have opened. They want their guests to stop by and enjoy what they call the “Foxtail Experience.” As they continue to expand and open up new locations, they remain committed to the same quality and standards that they have practiced since the beginning, placing value on the coffee and the guests.
Foxtail Coffee Co. also aims to be philanthropic in terms of their community partnerships. They are currently in partnerships with educational institutions, such as the University of Central Florida and Orange County Library System; national organizations, such as the Children’s Miracle Network and the Wounded Warrior Project; and local partners, such as Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and Orlando Health Foundation. In Lake Nona, they are searching for organizations to partner with as the community continues to grow and as the shop nears its opening date.
Lake Nona became the ideal location for Foxtail’s 12th store as the new Pixon Apartments opened up near Medical City. Because Lake Nona and Medical City are rapidly growing areas, the location felt ideal: “We’re just excited to be a part of the Lake Nona community,” says co-founder Tchekmeian. “It’s incredible what they’ve done in a short period of time, and the quality of a lot of the retail opportunities there aligns with what we’re looking for, not to mention a lot of the newer stuff coming in there. We love Lake Nona.”
Foxtail’s Winter Park location offers events for the community such as Wined Up Wednesday, where guests can come to drink unlimited wine with friends between 6-8 p.m., and Roasting Classes, where guests can learn all about the process of getting coffee from the plant to the cup and even roast some beans themselves. While specific events for the Lake Nona location are still in the works, it is expected that Lake Nona’s shop will offer some kind of event at least once a month as a way to get the community involved.
Foxtail Coffee Co. will be located in the new Pixon Apartment building on Tavistock Lakes Boulevard. The shop will open directly into the apartment building’s lobby, which will offer additional comfort and seating for residents and guests. The shop may also be accessed from the street for the convenience of guests.
Tchekmeian mentions that part of the draw to open the Lake Nona shop in this location is due to the beauty and unique style of the Pixon Apartments lobby. While an exact opening date is yet to be determined, Lake Nona residents can expect Foxtail Coffee Co. to open its doors sometime around mid-September.
