Exploring Life & Business with Gabe Hagen and Jesse Shank of Brick Road Coffee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabe Hagen and Jesse Shank.

Hi Gabe and Jesse, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Gabe Hagen has alternated between coffee and finance all of his adult life. Steaming milk and pulling espresso got him to the West Coast and on his feet as a young man, where he entered the banking world at only 18. He returned to coffee to help pay for his undergrad, and then again while he focused on a master’s degree in regulatory compliance from the Gould School of Law at USC. Finally, having achieved his goals in the compliance world, he brings all of his focus and talent back to coffee once more- this time on his own terms and in his own space.

Jesse Shank gained an appreciation of meaningful customer relationships and personal touches as a day-time bartender in San Diego, where he spent 12 years serving the LGBTQ community. It took the upheaval of the Great Recession to cause Jesse to finally put down roots and switch careers. Today, Jesse holds a leadership role within the Payments industry but has never lost his passion for small-town spaces in big-city places.

After 14 years together (and finally married!), another great upheaval – this time in the form of a global pandemic – caused us to reassess our goals once more. Dreams that had been tucked neatly into the “Maybe When We Retire” file started to make more sense in the “Here and Now”. Worn down by corporate culture and with little time to engage with the community or pursue other interests, we had finally had enough. We decided that mental health and a reasonable work-life balance were more important than a fat paycheck.

Brick Road Coffee was born of a desire to connect with others, to create a healthy work culture of acceptance and understanding, and to build up employees and the community they serve. We are incredibly pleased to have found a way to incorporate so many parts of ourselves and our community into a single space. Our name is a metaphor; we all travel our own paths in life, laying one brick at a time and taking each turn as it comes.

We are working hard to create a place where community intersects, connects, and supports each other in their individual goals. One of the things we are both so passionate about is mentoring and developing our employees to help them become the best version of themselves. We both had experiences when we were younger that shaped us and helped us live authentically, and we want to do the same for the people that are serving our community alongside us.

“I want to be known for how I treat my employees and my community. I want to be known for my coffee, sure, but I want to be known for those two things more.” – Gabe Hagen

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
We’re creating a community space in the midst of a pandemic so there are definitely challenges. Still, we knew what we were getting into and had the biggest impacts of the shut-down behind us, benefited from the many hard lessons learned by those that came before us, and exist in a community eager to both support small businesses and reconnect with each other.

Self-doubt has probably been the greatest challenge to overcome. Neither of us has ever stood up a brick-and-mortar business and it has certainly been a learning experience. Luckily, the two of us have many complementary strengths. Still, there is plenty involved in an enterprise like this that we’ve had to learn as we go.

The solution in some cases is almost as difficult – delegating tasks we’re not great at to others who are, and being humble enough to accept help when it’s offered. Giving others input in something you care about so much is hard, but it’s a necessity. We want our employees to feel a sense of ownership too, so we strive to be open to others’ ideas.

We’ve been impressed with Brick Road Coffee, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We want everyone that comes into our shop to think “this place was meant for me.” We know we can’t be all things to all people, though, so we really focus on making sure that communities that might feel less welcome in traditional spots know that they have a safe space to be themselves and make positive connections.

Some of that calls back to our own experience as queer youth and the important role coffee shops played for us. We’re upfront about being an LGBTQ-owned establishment and that’s reflected clearly in the entertainment, music, and art we choose to display. We lean in heavily to the intersecting art and recovery communities as well.

“We are in your space, serving you coffee.” – Jesse Shank

A great product is important to us – we really took our time selecting the perfect local roaster, Cult Coffee, and we can’t say enough good things about the pastries brought in by Squarz Bakery in Tempe – but we think approachability and authenticity are just as important. We definitely aren’t “Coffee Snobs.” We have a ton of offerings from fresh-squeezed lemonades and botanicals to premium nitro cold brews. Like everything else at Brick Road Coffee, we want everyone to find something that fits them, from the first-time coffee drinker to the cappuccino connoisseur.

Another big differentiator for us is our operating hours. While Gabe was working full time and completing his master’s degree, we were constantly frustrated that the coffee shops near us all closed early. We are lucky to have enough evening foot traffic in our location to support extended hours, and we’re committed to serving the student community by staying open late each night. We have outlets at every seat, so students should feel comfortable settling in for a late-night “Cram Session,” also the name of our most popular sparkling energy drink!

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Are we hard-working, creative, and passionate? Sure. But we’re also risk-averse, scatter-brained, and always heading in three directions at once. I don’t know if there is anyone characteristic that leads to success. I think success comes when you are true to yourself and pursue things you love, especially in a public-facing business like a cafe.

There’s no hiding or faking it; people can tell when you’re genuine and care about a good experience and they tend to respond in kind.

Contact Info:

• Email: brickroadcoffee@gmail.com
• Website: www.brickroadtempe.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brickroadcoffee/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrickRoadCoffee

Image Credits
Rob Redford