Our next feature in the Old Trail Village Center Merchant Series is Trailside Coffee. The creation of owner and Crozet native Marcia McGee, Trailside Coffee will anchor the Village Center’s north end on Old Trail Drive. Having already been developing her business for over a year prior to the construction launch of the Village Center, Trailside Coffee was one of the first commitments to the new commercial space in Old Trail Village.
Marcia and her team of Trailside baristas are already offering an extensive selection of hot and cold espresso beverages at their interim cart location in the Old Trail Golf Pro Shop, located in the Clubhouse on Golf Drive. Open since last fall, Marcia and Coleen have already served hundreds of thirsty patrons custom Trailside roasts in coffee and espresso form, as well as a wide selection of teas and smoothies. A specialty offered by Trailside is “Mate” - a South American herb that provides less caffeine than coffee as well as a high dose of body-boosting antioxidants. The “Mate Latte” blended at Trailside is perfect hot or cold, and is always refreshing.
Once open in the new space, the Trailside Menu will expand to include fresh, made-to-order panini for breakfast and lunch, pastries, soups, salads, and hearty smoothies customized with a variety of nutritional supplements and vitamins. Meal offerings will also be extensive including daily quiche specials, cheese plates, and sandwiches.
An exciting addition to the Trailside Menu is ice cream! Trailside Coffee will offer several flavors of soft-serve with options for cups, cones, or delicious “hurricanes” blended with your favorite toppings. Trailside will also make milkshakes, including local fruits when in season.
Trailside Coffee’s motto “Not just good coffee, GREAT coffee!” is indicative of their custom blends and special roasts. Trailside Coffee beans come from a roaster and purveyor based in Williamsburg, Virginia. The beans are specially selected by Marcia and are delivered fresh to her shop in the Village Center twice weekly. In addition to the fresh-brewed beverages, customers will also be able to order beans for home use. As the flavor palate of her customers develops, Marcia will be able to create new custom roasts and blends for her shop. She is already serving custom-labeled beans and exclusive roasts at the Pro Shop Cart.
Marcia is committed to making Trailside Coffee a local shop serving as many local and Virginia-made products as possible. Her bagels, a special low-carb recipe that are quite delicious, are made by a company based in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and she will incorporate seasonal fruits and vegetables from local farmers in her other menu items. Says Marcia,
“I’m a local girl - I grew up here within sight of the Old Trail Village Center, my family is from here, and I still live here in Crozet, too. I want to support the local community with my shop: both residents and the businesses, farms, and orchards of the area. It’s important to me to stay local - it’s one aspect of Trailside that is different from chain coffee shops.”
Marcia has already supported our local community by organizing the Santa event held this past December at the Clubhouse. The event, the highlight of which was free pictures with Santa, collected toy donations for the UVa Hospital Pediatrics wards and food for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.
Trailside Coffee is open 8am-12pm in the Old Trail Golf Pro Shop. Like her soon-to-open shop in the Village Center, the Golf Clubhouse offers free wireless and comfortable seating.
Marcia McGee (center), owner of Trailside Coffee, with her baristas Coleen (left) and Chiera (right).
