Our guests on this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast are Jim and Kathy Kozak, owners of Talia Espresso on Main Street in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Jim and Kathy were first introduced to North Wilkesboro by a friend from Detroit, where they lived, who retired in the North Wilkesboro area. They visited her a few times and were captivated by the community and the natural beauty of the region, so when they felt the need to move their family away from the bustle of city life, they immediately settled on North Wilkesboro. Though their exposure to the area had been minimal, they both felt a peace from the Lord about moving their family to the region.
They quickly felt at home in North Wilkesboro and their kids got plugged into local schools. Shortly after they arrived, Jim and Kathy teamed up with a young couple from Seattle to research and plan for a potential business endeavor. After a time of prayer, Kathy felt led to name the business Talia, which has roots that mean “lift me up.” The younger couple backed out in the late stages of planning, but Jim and Kathy kept the momentum going and started a mobile coffee business which evolved into the storefront on Main Street. They found that this was the perfect way to blend their business backgrounds with their passion for serving people, and they have felt such support from the community, even during the difficult financial times of the Great Recession.
Jim and Kathy enjoy being very involved in the day-to-day operations of Talia, but they have also invested in several employees and a general manager who are bought in to the mission of the business and give Jim and Kathy peace of mind during their days off. They greatly enjoy greeting and meeting everyone who walks through their doors, from locals and large groups to traveling businessmen. They recently installed a brand-new sign for Talia on Main Street which has been well-received and appreciated for its tastefulness in the historic district.
To contribute to the musical community of North Wilkesboro and the region, Talia has begun hosting Sounds and Grounds events once per month, and they are excited to see the impact that these events can have on local culture.
Connect with Jim and Kathy:
https://www.facebook.com/talia.espresso
http://instagram.com/taliaespresso
