Empire Tea and Coffee opens third location in Newport

Empire Tea and Coffee, a Newport staple for two decades, plans to open a third location in Newport: a new coffee shop at 135 JT Connell Highway.

CJ Barone, managing partner of Empire Tea & Coffee, cites increasing demand as a key driver for expansion.

“The demand for our products has been steadily increasing and we needed more space for another coffee roasting facility,” Barone told What’sUpNewp in an interview on Friday, October 18. “Since the pandemic, there have been both ready-to-drink coffee and bean coffee sales, and retail sales have increased steadily.”

The new location will serve dual purposes, housing both a café and an expanded roastery. Barone initially looked for an industrial location for roasting operations, but saw an opportunity in the JT Connell Highway site.

“From a roasting perspective, being close to the highway allows us to receive shipments in coffee beans and get them to our stores,” Barone said. “From a cafe perspective, it’s a great opportunity to expand our brand and our menu, which we’re really excited about.”

Unlike Empire’s existing locations, the new cafe will offer on-site parking, a feature that Barone believes will transform the customer experience.

“This is the first location in 20 years to have parking,” he noted. “We feel like we’re going to have a lot more opportunities to find customers who can come in and sit down and have a bite to eat with us for breakfast or lunch.”

The expanded menu offers Mediterranean-inspired options for both breakfast and lunch. Barone described dishes like Turkish eggs and herbed yogurt with crusty bread, as well as sandwiches, salads and grain bowls.

“We want people to come in and have a little more time to sit there,” Barone said. “We’ll get some outdoor seating at some point.”

While the application lists operating hours of 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Barone indicated those could be adjusted based on staffing levels and demand. The aim of the early opening is to capture rush hour traffic.

The new location will serve as a testing ground for menu items that may be introduced at Empire’s other two locations in Newport and Bristol.

“We have a lot more storage space,” Barone said. “It’s a good opportunity for us to stock a lot more product, experiment even more and do things that we think are our hits.”

Barone expects to hire between 20 and 30 people for the new location, with recruiting expected to begin in mid-November. Full-time employees are offered health benefits, competitive wages and product discounts. Those interested in employment can apply here.

Barone expects the cafe to be ready by December. However, he doesn’t rule out a January start to ensure everything is perfect.

“We will be starting with some preview nights for our employees, our friends and family, and some loyal customers,” Barone said. “Anyone who follows us on Instagram and has our app is invited to sign up for the opportunity to come in, check it out and also experience the menu with us.”

As Empire Tea and Coffee celebrates its 20th anniversary in Newport, Barone sees the expansion as a testament to the community’s support.

“We’re really excited,” he said. “This really shows our commitment to our community and also the support our community has given us over 20 years.”