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Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Young Guns: Behind the Scenes with Society Coffee

Christina Scotti

FOXBusiness

FOXBUSINESS.COM PROFILES ENTREPRENEURS AGE 35 AND YOUNGER

Society Coffee founder Karl Williams, 32, always knew he wanted to start his own business—but the idea of wearing a suit wasn't as appealing. So he hatched an idea for a community café and decided to open up shop in the New York neighborhood of Harlem, where he was living--an area he felt could benefit from the communal enterprise he envisioned.

He saw his shop, Society Coffee, as “a place where everyone could come and connect, sitting, writing, imagining…sipping with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.”

To gather up the $350,000 he needed to get started, Williams relied on every resource he could tap--from SBA loans to personal savings to home equity lines of credit. It was risky for the New York native to create a business in a neighborhood that hadn’t yet been caught up in the Harlem renaissance, but Williams said he had a strong idea and “a gut feeling that this would be something I would really enjoy.”

And so far, he has. In fact, Williams is opening a second restaurant down the block later this summer. “I have this vision of creating intimate places that [people] can take ownership of--that’s my bar, that’s my restaurant, that’s my coffee shop, that’s my café.”

Today it’s Harlem, but Williams dreams of someday taking his community café concept to other places with neighborhoods “that have a lot of character”—like San Francisco and Barcelona.

To learn more about Williams' story, check out “Harlem Society” and scroll down for the Six Shooter Q&A…

THE SIX SHOOTER

1. Where were you the moment you decided your business plan?

I think I was in my ex-girlfriend's café. I had helped her with the idea. I was looking at some real estate investments and just remember saying to myself: 'Man, running my own café would be so much cooler.'

2. What was the one thing you didn't know that you had to bluff your way through?

Just about everything. I had never worked in a restaurant before. So it was trial by fire. I made a lot of mistakes. But I stayed committed to what I was doing.

3. What one life lesson did you learn that helped you build your business?

You are only as good as those you surround yourself with. It seems almost cliché, but it truly matters that you have the right people in place and that they share your passion for the business

4. Who is your role model or inspiration?

My father. He has always had vision and drive. He sees opportunities and is not afraid to go after them. I also admire Richard Branson for his creative, individualistic bravado. Lenny Kravitz for bending the rules and doing the unexpected and Michael Jordan for being the best ever!

5. What do you wish you had more of: time or money?

Money. I feel like I am maximizing my time and getting the most out of it. I also feel like you are guaranteed time on some level. Yes, you never know what could happen to you or your business, but every day you wake up, you have 24 hours.[But] money can buy you time too. Just ask anyone who can afford a really good personal assistant.

6. What is the one word your employees your employees would use to describe you and why?

Driven. I’m constantly pushing them to overcome hurdles and drive and grow the business. I also think they would say that I am fair. I try to balance the needs of the company with [the employee] as much as I can.

Want to know who's next? Check back every other week to see more Young Guns... If you know a Young Gun e-mail us at youngguns@foxbusiness.com.

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