In a world of coffee dominated by establishments like Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, and 7 brew where coffee is often served quickly with the intent of convenience, Heartwood Coffee Roasters is reshaping that narrative. By their practice of ethically sourcing from all over the world and small-batch roasting, Heartwood brings a slower, more intentional approach to coffee, and it’s coming to Brecksville.
Owned by husband and wife Jim and Jacinda Sanders, Jim announced through instagram that the cafe is expected to open this coming May in the former Sakura restaurant at the Heinen’s Plaza. With locations in Chagrin Falls, Hudson and Orange Village, Heartwood has gained a loyal following in North East Ohio by creating a space that prioritizes quality, community, and customer experience .
According to their website, their mission statement emphasizes “At Heartwood, our mission is to Grow Together. This means every relationship we make, every partner we work with, every person in the supply chain should be growing, enriching their lives, and thriving from the interaction. Visit one of our cafes in Hudson, Chagrin Falls, or Pinecrest and experience this same care and attention to detail. These spaces were built to bring the people in our communities together and provide the ideal place to relax, get work done, or spend time with friends and family.”.
Unlike many national chains, Heartwood places a strong focus on quality. Megan Studer, a longtime Heartwood customer, expressed her enthusiasm for the Brecksville location.
“I was very excited ‘cause I’m a long-time Heartwood fan primarily going to their Hudson location,” she said. “What makes Heartwood stand out is the customization and quality of the products. They make everything in-house, and it’s always high quality.”
Heartwood’s story is deeply personal to founder Jim Sanders, whose passion for coffee grew from curiosity and inspiration. In a youtube video featured on Heartwood’s official website, Sanders said, “You would think that a cup of coffee is just something you grab in the morning, and you don’t really even think about it. But the types of shops that I would go to were really inspiring. It felt like that’s the kind of place where I would want to work. I wanted to build a career around this environment. When I started to think about what my life could look like if I built something like this, I was really excited about that.”
From those early beginnings, Heartwood has built a company centered on both coffee quality and customer experience. Sanders emphasized the balance of art and science in their approach: “Everybody who works here, they’re just artists. Coffee is very much an art. It’s very much a science… we’ve got people who want to make your life better when you walk in the door. (Quote pulled from Heartwood’s official website)
A significant quality of Heartwood is that it’s a local cafe. Much of North-East Ohio’s coffee culture is prominent downtown, with bigger chains being more common in suburban areas like Broadview Heights, Parma, and Strongsville. Local residents see Heartwood’s approach as a positive addition to the community.
“Local is more appealing because there are fewer ‘processed in a plastic bag’ worries,” said community member and BBHHS Science Teacher Louie Rundo when discussing differences between independent cafes and large national chains. Rundo added that new local businesses can sometimes become just as recognizable within a community as major corporations such as Starbucks or McDonald’s.
Brecksville already has an abundance of coffee choices, from national chains to local shops. The addition of another cafe has led to different opinions about whether a new option is necessary. For coffee enthusiasts like Studer, Heartwood fills a gap in the local coffee scene. “The cafes that we have now aren’t very good, and Heartwood brings a level of quality, creativity, and care that Brecksville has not seen yet,” she said.
Meanwhile, residents who do not drink coffee have a different perspective. Brooke Welch, another local resident and BBHHS English teacher, noted that while Heartwood may be exciting for coffee drinkers, the opening is less significant for her. “I do not drink coffee personally, and I feel like locally we already have plenty of options for coffee,” she said. “I would rather see more family-oriented restaurants or fun things to do around town.”
Beyond the mixed opinions in the community, Heartwood Coffee Roasters has gained a reputation for its specialty in coffee and community connection. Heartwood describes themselves as a coffee roaster that seeks to make specialty coffee “vibrant, exciting, and approachable.” Their coffee shops are designed as a place where customers can come and relax and enjoy the company and atmosphere as they experience the company’s “Grow Together” mission.
In the meantime, while construction is still in progress at the up and coming Brecksville location, Heartwood has already begun making their presence known in the area. They have set up a few coffee-cart pop ups in downtown Brecksville. Last month, they were at Vertical Runner. While this month, they can be found in Barber Dales. Residents can enjoy a free espresso, americano, or cappuccino, giving them a taste of what Heartwood has to offer before it officially opens its doors.
As Heartwood prepares for their grand opening, the Brecksville location is sure to bring their signature coffee, crafted drinks, and community-driven atmosphere to the town. In addition to Heartwood, the same owners are also planning to open Good Grief, a breakfast and lunch spot. The eatery already has an established location in Hudson, where it opened in 2023 and quickly became a popular, casual destination for fast, creative comfort food. Known for its “backyard barbecue” style menu and vegan-friendly options like breakfast burritos, Good Grief adds a different but complementary element to Heartwood’s coffee-focused experience.
Whether this becomes a new spot for coffee connoisseurs, and or an exciting new addition to the city’s growing retail scene that has been expanded upon within the past year, the opening is more than just a new business: it’s about the upward trend of spaces that bring people together in the area. Residents will soon have the opportunity to see the way Heartwood Coffee Roaster’s concept of combining coffee culture and shared community contributes to Brecksville’s growing landscape.
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