Corner Perk hits right blend of coffee, ambiance to brew successful shop

On a typical Tuesday morning, dozens of customers can be seen sitting on the shaded porch or lounging on a couch in the Corner Perk coffee shop and cafe.

Entering the shop, there is an instant sense of Southern charm, yet city-like atmosphere, with burlap pillows on bench seats, copper light fixtures with exposed bulbs, a chalkboard menu hanging over the register and painted wooden crates for shelving.

With its innovative decor, Southern hospitality and, of course, freshly roasted and brewed coffee, Corner Perk in Bluffton has won the 2015 Small Business of the Year Award from the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce.

Owners Josh and Kali Cooke first opened the shop in April 2009. The beginning of their journey, however, was not so successful.

In addition to the economy being in a slump, one of the streets that led to their first coffee shop located on Burnt Church Road, was closed for the shop's first nine months, causing the business to falter, Josh Cooke said.

The couple worked long hours and developed better and newer ideas, which ultimately saved their shop.

"Over time, we got enough stuff right, and we learned from our mistakes," Josh Cooke said.

The shop also got some international attention in 2012 for some customers who would "pay it forward," by paying for future customers' coffee.

The business moved to a larger location in Old Town Bluffton in January 2014. The new space is nearly double the size and has a second story where Cooke hopes to soon host business meetings, receptions and parties. It also now serves alcohol.

Corner Perk roasts its own coffee in the store, perfecting its signature roasts: Pluff Mud and May River. Customers that dine in also have their coffee brewed directly at their table.

The shop sets itself apart from other shops by offering breakfast and lunch made to order, homemade desserts, a variety of cocktails, original K-cups for the Keurig, a mobile coffee cart, an assortment of organic options and an environmentally friendly ambiance.

The Perk also has a variety of organic and chemical-free coffee beans, which are planted partially in the shade to provide a richer and cleaner product.

Mini iPads are used to place orders, which provides customers with the option to receive a receipt electronically, instead of a paper one.

Apart from the highly rated coffee and food, the Park prides itself on its Southern hospitality.

"We are not just in the food and beverage industry, we are in the customer-service and -experience industry," he said. "You can have the best products and have a cool atmosphere, but you really just need to treat people well."

Kristen Rowell, made the trip from Beaufort to enjoy coffee with a few friends at the Perk, where she soaked in the neighborly atmosphere and sipped iced chai latte.

"It has a really nice and fun environment," Rowell said. "Everyone is really friendly and upbeat."

Corner Perk waitress Michelle Perri said she knew working at the coffee shop would be the perfect summer job, after being a regular customer since the shop opened in 2009.

"They haven't been able to get rid of me the last six years," she said. "When I am away at college, the first place I visit when I get into town is the Perk, even before I go to my own house sometimes."

This story was originally published June 9, 2015 at 7:42 PM with the headline "Corner Perk hits right blend of coffee, ambiance to brew successful shop."