DESIGN NEWS CURRENT DESIGN NEWS
GOOSECUP
A Curated Concept of Good Coffee + Craft Cocktails by Sherry Moeller Photos by Angela Newton Roy
In pursuit of their dreams, Ahad Raza, a tech startup veteran, and Zaara Raza, a nurse, decided to move from Austin, Texas to Leesburg, Virginia, where Zaara grew up, in 2018. Top of their list was starting a coffee-cocktail brand. Then the pandemic hit. “The pandemic threw us for a loop,” says Ahad. Opening a restaurant of any type during the pandemic was a gamble, and the couple had their share of uncertainty whether or not their dream would materialize with financial, leasing, staffing, and furnishing setbacks throughout 2020. But they accomplished what they set out to – opening Goosecup on January 29, 2021. “In a lot of ways, Goosecup and businesses like it became something of a symbol for things returning to normal,” Ahad says. While Goosecup is a concept you’d see in more urbancity environments, the entrepreneurs felt that if you put a hip, beautifully-designed, coffee-cocktail concept in a suburban environment that is easily accessible and focused on high-quality products and top-notch service, it would thrive. “We’ve been busy since day one and haven’t looked back,” adds Ahad. “We are incredibly lucky to have a bevy of talented folks from diverse hospitality backgrounds with equally diverse skillsets at Goosecup,” says Ahad. “We are realistic perfectionists,” who saw a natural relationship between specialty coffee and custom cocktails in terms of craftsmanship and attention to detail. When it comes to the shop’s design, Zaara says, “It’s inspired by the relaxed and natural feel of California and minimalist and clean lines of Scandinavian design.” The solid ash furniture designed in the UK and manufactured in Portugal captures the overall inspiration, while the pop of color from the bar’s tile adds a touch of playfulness. The design is “high quality, thoughtfully curated and adds a perfect backdrop to the main attraction, which are the guests,” adds Zara, who says her favorite features are the Andrew Neyer-designed Chime Lights, which almost look like an art installation. “We spend an inordinate amount of time and attention on getting coffee right,” says Ahad, who adds they get their coffee from small, single-origin farms in South America and
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JOHN ERIC HOME
Africa and roast the coffee in Berryville, Virginia. In order to produce coffee with beautiful flavors, they lightly roast it. Lattes are top sellers, while the Orange Sunshine made from house-made candied orange syrup is also a hit. For cocktails, a sure winner is the Bartender’s Whim, which is a custom drink tailored to the guest. Top food items include Goosecup’s bacon, egg and cheese sandwich and avocado toast, with new items always in the works, especially for the evening menu. The newest addition to Goosecup is the coworking space, called Collective, above the shop. There are about 60 memberships available offering exclusive perks. For more info about Goosecup located at 216 S. King Street, Leesburg, VA and open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, visit www.goosecup.co.
