Today we’d like to introduce you to Randy Price.
Hi Randy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Field Day Coffee started as a dream back in 2012. I was working at a coffee shop, roasting my own coffee at home, and becoming pretty much obsessed with specialty coffee. I knew that I wanted to have my own space at some point, but I couldn’t do it on my own. A few years later, I met my wife, Callie, at another coffee shop in town, and it turned out that we both had the same idea!
We launched Field Day Coffee in 2019. Our goal was pretty simple. We wanted to serve the best coffee we could find in a friendly and welcoming environment. Everyone deserves a great cup of coffee.
Field Day started as a coffee cart doing markets, weddings, craft fairs, and even a surf competition! Later that year, we decided to move into a garage and serve coffee every day. We would show up, roll up the garage door, and hope that people would swing by. It was tough. And the pandemic didn’t help. But slowly, we got busier and were able to build out our new space next door.
We moved into our new space in September of 2021 and have been growing in there ever since! What started as a little coffee cart is now a full-on cafe, bakery, and vintage clothing shop. It’s been a really fun journey and pretty wild to look back on. Our next plan is to open a little wine shop and start roasting our own coffee! Always something going on around here.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’d say the biggest challenge has been scaling our business. At first it was just Callie and I making every single drink for customers. You had that consistency every single day. Obviously, it’s not really possible these days. I had some experience training staff, but managing and leading a team is something that I had to learn. I still feel like I’m learning four years later.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Field Day Coffee?
Field Day Coffee is a cafe here on the Central Coast. We do our best at choosing the best coffees, teas, and wines that we can find on the planet. I’d say we have a certain style that we go for, but we want to make things approachable for everyone. We want every person to leave our shop with something they enjoy. Whether that’s a coffee, a delicious house-made bagel, or a bottle of wine. My wife Callie runs a vintage clothing shop next door called The Shop at Field Day. It’s definitely worth checking out if you come on a weekend!
I think that I’m most proud of the community that came out of this space. The kindness of our staff has made that possible. Yes, the coffee is good. But I believe that customers come back because they feel connected to our team. So many customers have become our friends over the years. It’s pretty special to think about and something we will always be thankful for.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Just be yourself! A big part of our business is authenticity. We always want Field Day to represent us as people. One example is that we would never serve something that we didn’t personally love. It keeps you excited about what you are doing, and I feel like people can feel that when they walk through the doors.
Have a little grace for yourself. I had to realize there were things that I might never be good at. I can make coffee all day, but some things just aren’t in my wheelhouse. Take the time to grow and know that it might not always be perfect.
Always be willing to learn. I am constantly educating myself on things. It allows me to feel inspired and also better communicate with my staff.
Also, stay thankful. It’s easy to go day to day and not take time to reflect. The journey of owning a business is truly crazy, but it’s always worth it in the end.
Contact Info:
- Website: fielddaycoffee.com
- Instagram: @fielddaycoffee
Image Credits
@anyaismyname
