Nibbles + Bites

A Loyal Following Denver’s Cabbella’s Coffee earns impeccable reputation

by Tony Ricciardelli | photography by Lisa Crates

Cabbella’s Coffee Shop owner Suzi Hearld greets customers.

For Lake Norman coffee drinkers venturing west toward Lincoln County on Highway 73, the place to go for roasted coffee and specialty drinks is Cabbella’s Coffee Shop in Denver. Located on State Road 16 Business, Cabbella’s is known for its eclectic choice of beverages, and its comfortable, welcoming atmosphere. This shop is where the locals satisfy their coffee cravings, serving hot and cold drinks at reasonable prices, without the glitz and urgency of the bigger, well-known franchises. There is nothing pretentious about Cabbella’s; the homey, living room atmosphere and intimate seating arrangement entice customers to unwind, converse, and enjoy the camaraderie. It has been serving Denver and its surrounding communities for twelve years.

“My late husband JR and I owned a nearby retail business, and we were doing quite well,” says Cabbella’s owner Suzi Hearld. “We had no intention of owning a coffee shop; we were just shopping around for merchandise to sell in our store. When JR noticed this coffee shop for sale, we were only interested in buying its furniture. The owner, however, offered us the entire business: the furniture, the equipment, all of it. Suddenly, we owned a coffee shop, and we were leaping into unfamiliar territory.”

Studying the craft

Subsequently, JR spent four months studying how successful coffee shops operate their businesses. He became a self-taught barista, learning the origins and history of coffee—how it is processed, how it is brewed, how it is served. He mastered countless recipes and experimented with hundreds of coffee and drink combinations, flavors, styles, and techniques. Suzi, of course, was the in-house taste tester. Suzi notes, “before we had the retail store, I had run my own photo restoration

The shop hosts Cars and Coffee, a monthly gathering of local muscle car afficionados who gather in the Cabbella’s parking lot, where they showcase their Corvettes, Trans-Ams, Camaros, and vintage muscle cars. Their intent is to engage car enthusiasts traveling along State Road 16 Business in Denver, while also supporting the shop. On Dec. 18, weather permitting, Santa Claus will join the Cars and Coffee crew.

A local book club gathered at Cabbella’s recently. Cabbella’s offers a wide variety of hot and cold specialty drinks.

company for twenty-five years. Fortunately, I had the business savvy to keep this new venture on track.”

In addition to hot and cold coffee, Cabbella’s boasts a wide selection of beverages including teas and sodas, protein shakes, frappes, and smoothies. Locally baked goods are also available. “Our coffee,” Suzi points out, “comes from an island off the coast of Panama, where the coffee is deemed the best in the world. Coincidently, our number one seller from this region of Panama is named Carolina. We have a catalogue of more than three hundred top grade coffees we can special order for customers.”

The shop’s offerings are impressive: forty-two assorted syrups, seventeen smoothie flavors, Italian Sodas, Milkshakes, Black and Green teas with purified fruit, Hot Chocolate, twelve different Protein Drinks. House specialties include original creations including Blackberry Banana Nut, Almond Joy, Turtle Mocha, and Milky Way coffees, and Dirty Chai tea. A popular choice among the locals is a powder-based Chai named Big Train Chai. Suzi’s latest creation is the Apple-Spiced Chai Frappe made with pureed apples.

Customers supporting more than business

Over the years, Cabbella’s has drawn a loyal clientele and growing support from its patrons. “We’re more than a community,” says Suzi, “we’re a family.” The support she refers to became overwhelmingly evident when her husband passed away in June 2020. “JR was a people-person, much loved and respected. When he died, our customers set up a GoFundMe page with a goal of raising $2,000 to offset expenses associated with JR’s passing and the downtime we needed to heal. Four days later, donations amounted to $24,000.”

Suzi recalls emotionally the generosity she experienced after her husband’s demise. “The outpouring and kindness customers showed toward me and my family was extraordinarily moving. We received hundreds of cards, beautiful flowers, and individual donations. Some of our patrons went as far as landscaping my property and detailing my home prior to JR’s commemorative service.”

Suzi is resolute in her efforts to give back to the community. Each holiday season, Cabbella’s serves as a drop-off point for Toys for Tots donations, and Hearld hosts a Christmas Angel Tree in conjunction with Christian Ministries. The business also provides gift baskets for local fund-raising auctions and church events.

Cabbella’s Coffee Shop

1250 N.C. 16, Denver www.cabellascoffee.com