At their second Roast Rider, Wayne Richmon points out Seth Lubaton’s mural merging a coffee motif with a VABeachVA vibe and Lisa immerses herself in “The Monk of Mokha” which mentions George Howell, one of their roasters. Photo credit: Annabelle Xanthos
By Marisa Marsey
As Wayne and Lisa Richmon prepared to launch their second Roast Rider Coffee + Cafe, Wayne decided it was time to create a signature drink: “Our version of the Frappuccino, but nothing like the Frappuccino.”
It’s no coincidence he cites that frosty concoction as inspiration. George Howell, the man who helped develop it at his Massachusetts-based Coffee Connection (which Starbucks later bought along with the trademarked name Frappuccino), is Wayne’s idol as Howell revolutionized the industry’s storage and technology systems and pioneered paying farmers prices far exceeding Fair Trade. His current company, George Howell Coffee, is one of the few roasters the Richmons showcase at their Hilltop East hub, known for sustainable, socially-responsible coffee and a very VABeachVA vibe.
When they opened in 2013, Wayne, a CPA, and Lisa, a journalist, had no real plans to grow the business beyond the one shop. She infers they probably didn’t even have any business being in business. “We had no retail experience,” she admits. “It was more like, ‘What are we doing?’” But they were laser-focused on curating topnotch-quality products and nurturing community, and it took off. With their learning curve cresting, now felt right for a second location, so Roast Rider Redmill debuted this spring in Dam Neck Plaza at the corner of General Booth Boulevard and Dam Neck Road.
And with it comes (drumroll, please)…The Mokalatto.
The dark cocoa-colored quencher presents as a milkshake, thick, rich and satisfying, but is chock-full of only things that are good for you: almond butter, cacao nibs, banana and hemp seed hearts, jolted by an espresso shot. “It’s indulgent, but mindful,” explains Lisa, who conceived the vegan-friendly beverage’s name (which, following in Howell’s footsteps, they trademarked), and laughingly agrees that it triggers the Lady Marmalade lyric, “Mocha chocolata, ya ya.”Apropos, as this chocolate-lovers’, coffee-obsessives’, nutrition-seekers’ dream of a drink makes you want to get up and dance.
You’ll find it at both shops, their menus mirroring each other with coffees, teas, and smoothies as well as sandwiches, quiches, baked goods and snacks conscientiously made by some of our area’s most innovative kitchens including Yorkie’s Modern Deli, Prosperity Kitchen & Pantry, The Green Cat and My Vegan Sweet Tooth. Also at both: branded, larger-than-life, counter-flanking concrete coffee cups, Wayne’s brainchild materialized by Zack Pease (whose wife Laura designed Roast Rider’s coffee bean-cum-surfboard logo).
But this new site, a former dentist’s office kitty-corner to Lendy’s, transformed by architect Chuck Wermers into a bright, perky, garage-door-adorned space, boasts a multi-purpose sensibility via a Game Parlor (stacked with puzzles, games and WhoRiddle, a locally-grown app Lisa helps market that brings folks together through riddle solving; look for riddles sprinkled throughout the café, too!) and a picturesque Tea Garden where Roast Rider’s coffee grounds become fertilizer and compost for tea plants whose leaves will then be brewed in-house.
“It’s an enchanting place to raise tea awareness,” says Lisa, who looks forward to tea cuppings and flights, and children’s groups coming on field trips. “It will be like Tea 101,” she adds, noting the cool instructive signage produced by Philip Goold of Goold Furniture & Design.
Lisa roll calls other artists and experts who helped bring their ideas to fruition in her buzzy, idea-a-minute way, as if delivering thanks in an Oscar speech before the orchestra dares to play her off: Lily Clayman, founder of Drishti Compost, along with Beatriz Balderas, Amy Goodove and Farmer John Wilson for the Tea Garden; Mia Katrina Guile for the Game Parlor painting; Seth Lubaton for murals; barista Matt Eichman for the custom latte art that Steve Wohlgemuth of WoogWorks crafted into “Roaster Coasters”; and interior designer Macall Lorio for “ensuring the furnished package would feel like an elevated RR 2.0 but still be warm and communal.”
She saves the biggest bouquet for her husband of 41 years, sharing that he’s why staff is long-tenured: “Our team likes Wayne’s easy-going and quirky personality and his management style. He sees potential and develops talent.” He’s also the one who cultivated relationships with roasters who she says, “…fuel farmers and their families and everyone along the supply chain so you can feel good about the coffee you love here.” Let’s raise a Mokalatto to that!
1554 Laskin Road and 1581 General Booth Blvd., Virginia Beach. roastridercoffee.com
Session Takes Two, Too
Session, another local fave rocking a beach aesthetic, has opened a second location at Edgar Cayce’s Association for Research & Enlightenment (A.R.E.) at the North End. Adored for its nonjudge-y, inclusive breakfast and lunch fare spanning very-vegan to red-blooded omnivore –with a musical spin – it’s subleasing the café in the Health Center & Spa in the historic sea-green coastal cottage by the Visitor Center. Open to the public, you need not be an A.R.E. member to enjoy the Avocado Toast, Breakfast Fried Rice (with bacon or turkey sausage or tempeh bacon), Mushroom Bahn Mi and other sammies you can doctor to your desire, plus the smoothies and cocktails, featured at five-year-old Session on Shore Drive.
Owner Priscilla Queen, a clinical dietitian, shares that branching out wasn’t originally in the pipeline, but this opportunity felt natural because, “Our food aligns with the nutritional followings of Edgar Cayce.”
Unlike the original, this café has an espresso machine for specialty coffee drinks. Order at the counter, then dine in on the light, breezy enclosed balconies or take to an umbrella-shaded table outdoors or to the beach across the street. There’s a grab-n-go fridge for packaged sandwiches and a natural wine section. “Happy Hour on the Hill” starts this spring on Thursdays and Fridays (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) with wine specials, charcuterie and noshes.
2973 Shore Drive and 215 67th Street, Virginia Beach. sessionvb.com