Couple Runs Coffee Shop With a Positive Theme

Around Campus Editor

Photo by Nick Johnson

Keeping Things Fresh - Richard Russell, owner of the Coffee Bean in Monticello, prepares a drink. He and his wife Vonda run the shop.

    MONTICELLO - A local coffee shop in Monticello, ran by a married couple, pride themselves on running a positive business.

   Richard Russell and his wife Vonda Russell are from Warren and they run the Coffee Bean in Monticello off highway 425. 

   The couple and their son Callon lived in Monticello for 3 years. Before opening the shop, Richard worked at Burlington and his wife is currently wokering at Drew Memorial Hospital.

   The couple opened the coffee shop after Richard had a liver transplant. 

   "He was disabled somewhat," Vonda said. "So he did have to enter the workforce under someone else's terms, we opened the business up. It's something we always had an interest in."

   The coffee used at the shop is all imported from Italy. The beans are roasted according to the Russell's preference. 

   "When customers come here, they get the real stuff," Richard said. "I'm not knocking McDonald's or anything like that...Everything is freshly ground, its not liquid. When you get it, its right then and there, from the coffee all the way up. It's good fresh roasted beans."

   Besides selling coffee, the Coffee Bean also hosts birthday parties, game nights, karokees, movie nights, dart tournaments and sometimes local Christian bands will come and perform. 

   Since the shop opened, they've gained good reception from its customers. 

   "When me and my husband Cameron first came here, they were so nice to us," Elizabeth Spencer of Monticello said. "They let us stay a while after closing to get some work done."

   The Russell's have expressed that they are running a Christian-based shop. Vonda said they don't tolerate profanity or "disruptive behavior." 

   I enjoy the customer who comes in and has a frown on their face and I can make them smile. The customers that are smiling, you know they're okay. Richard said he likes people and enjoys talking to customers and praying for them.