by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Steve Hicks had always planned to expand Shelby’s Coffee Shoppe, his family-owned Neptune Beach coffee house, just not for a few years. That all changed after a high-profile opportunity downtown presented itself.
“We wanted to grow, but we thought it would be a little further down the road and probably somewhere on the Southside,” Hicks said.
That Southside expansion is still in the works, but when the new Main Library opens in mid-November, Shelby’s will be brewing coffee and serving food inside.
“We read in the paper a few months ago that the City was accepting bids from parties who wanted to operate a cafe in the library, someone who would serve coffee and food,” said Hicks, a Fletcher High graduate. “That’s exactly what we do, so we threw our name into the hat.”
On July 7, the committee reviewing the bids recommended Shelby’s for the library shop.
“We’re really looking forward to serving as a complement to the library,” Hicks said. “There is the potential for us to be very successful there. It’s a no-brainer.”
Already a popular beach eatery for more than 11 years, Hicks said Shelby’s downtown counterpart would be prepared to accommodate the large building’s “diverse” customer base.
“Our menu at the beach is a bit more on the exotic side,” Hicks said of Shelby’s trademark bagel sandwiches, salads and wraps. “There are things on there you won’t find at a Firehouse or a Subway.
“We’re excited to bring that downtown, but we also understood the need to add those more traditional menu items, too, familiar sandwiches and salads.”
A life-long Florida resident, Hicks wore several hats including that of a City of Miami Police officer and financial planner before settling down as Shelby’s full-time manager a few years ago.
He said he expects the drive downtown from the beach will be hard to take in the beginning, but it does little to deter him from being excited about all of the possibilities.
“I never imagined we’d come down here any time soon,” he said. “But now that we are, we can’t wait.”