There are few words in the English language that more poetic when strung together than “coffee” “weed” and “cobbler.” Yes, this is another “only in Acadiana” episode of Out to Lunch. So let’s dive in.
For a lot of entrepreneurs, the dream of owning a business is about independence. The money helps, of course. But what they’re really after is a kind of self-expression or self-determination. They want the satisfaction of working on their own terms, of doing things their own way.
Working for someone else can offer stability, but it can be confining — especially when you have an unusual idea. You might not think a coffee shop is an unusual idea. But you’ve probably not been to a coffee shop quite like Coffeeweed Cottage in Lafayette. It’s the brainchild of Denise Champagne McClure.
Denise Champagne McClure, Coffeweed Cottage is a unique combination of cafe, crafts, and plants
Coffeeweed (which is technically a colloquial term for chicory) doubles as a cafe and home decor showroom. You can buy a cup of joe — artisan roasted — and shop for books, local crafts and…plants.
Denise is a trained horticulturist, and a big part of Coffeeweed’s vibe is its grow bar. Customers book grow bar sessions, pick plants and pots and get a lesson on how to help their new green friends thrive.
Denise grew up in Cecilia and opened Coffeeweed in 2023.
So diving headfirst into a new concept isn’t the only path to striking out on your own. Plenty of entrepreneurs take advantage of franchising opportunities. That’s how Christy Nolan and her husband Patrick came to open a Lafayette location of the fast-growing dessert chain: the Peach Cobbler Factory.
Christy Nolan, Peach Cobbler Factory started out as she and her husband’s retirement project and is turning into a dessert empire
There’s no mystery here. The Peach Cobbler Factory is known for…wait for it…peach cobbler. But the concept serves up a much bigger dessert menu that encourages experimentation. Customers can mix and match toppings how they like.
Christy and Patrick both work full time outside of running their Peach Cobbler location. The idea was to find a concept that would give them an off-ramp to retirement. They toyed with a few ideas but fell in love with the Peach Cobbler concept when a friend opened locations in Alabama. A taste test at a location in New Orleans sealed the deal. They opened their location in 2023.
Christy grew up in Erath and now lives in Abbeville. She works for AT&T and her husband works offshore.
Christy Nolan, Denise Champagne McClure, Christiaan Mader, Out to Lunch at Tsunami Sushi
Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. Photos by Liliana Morgan.
