RedLife Coffee, settled in the historic Alexander House, provides more than just a cup of coffee.
With a warm glow permanently shining through the windows, the scent of fresh roasted coffee and sweet crepes linger in the air. Rhythmic computer clicks, hushed conversations and hisses of steam fill the environment. It’s a cozy place.
The shop has been open for several weeks, but its Grand Opening will connect the new business to the Oxford community. The Grand Opening of RedLife Coffee is set to be from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at the RedLife Coffee Shop, 22 N. College Ave.
RedLife Coffee has been in the works since 2021, after the Calvary Church, based in Springdale, Ohio, purchased and renovated the historic Alexander House. As business progresses, the Calvary Church plans to host sermons and church services on the second floor of the coffee shop.
Future services will begin at 2 p.m. on Sundays with time to connect with fellow parishioners before service at 1:30 p.m., according to the Calvary Church website.
RedLife Coffee opened its doors on Aug. 30 and has been running ever since. The shop is currently open four days a week, Wednesday through Saturday. However, with attention growing around the business and the anticipated Grand Opening, shop hours will be expanding throughout the fall.
Inside the new shop there are various rooms and balconies full with tables for customers to work or relax. Large windows fill rooms with natural lighting to make the coffee shop feel like home for new customers. RedLife Coffee displays a warm environment that will invite new customers to come and try the La Terza coffee and freshly baked crepes.
“Since we are a start-up business, we wanted to start off small and then plan to expand. We didn’t want to do too much, too quickly,” said Hollee Sherley, the service manager of RedLife.
Although RedLife has officially been open for six weeks, the Grand Opening will be used as a way to celebrate the success of the business. “Our goal for the Grand Opening was to have a lot of the people that have helped RedLife expand and grow,” Sherley said, “us being able to feel like we did it!”
The gathering for the Grand Opening will begin at 5:30 p.m., while the ribbon cutting and dedication part of the event will begin at 6 p.m. and last until 7:30 p.m., when the shop closes.
The Oxford community and Miami students are encouraged to attend the Grand Opening. “It will be open to the whole community,” Sherley said, “the community can definitely come in and celebrate with us.”
However, Miami students have already made RedLife Coffee into an area for studying and relaxation. “It seems that more people are finding out about us and coming down,” Sherley said, “we want to create that space and extra time for more students to come and study.”
RedLife Coffee is not only focused on the student life in Oxford, but the community as a whole. “We’ve had different priests in the area come in and families coming in,” Sherley said, “we’re just trying to reach and create a space for everyone.”
Since the business is only open four days a week from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., manager Renee Stoehr noticed that some customers are not able to make it.
“So many people say ‘we can’t get there’ because of their work schedules and because we’re only open until three, most people work till five or six,” Stoehr said, “We are extending our hours.”
“I think more people will be able to come in and enjoy the environment,” Stoehr said.
As the year progresses RedLife will begin to expand its business hours and practices from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“We will be expanding our hours, menus and space,” Sherley said.
RedLife’s interior has spacious rooms that will be able to accommodate large groups of people. “Hopefully we can start renting out rooms,” Sherley said, ”For meetings, events or anything like that.”
RedLife Coffee aims to connect with the community and grow alongside the city of Oxford.
“It’s just so exciting seeing all the new faces coming in,” Sherley said, “We’re all learning and growing together”
