A favorite Charlotte coffee shop has moved into the Dowd YMCA. Here are the details.
Charlotte coffee spot The Giddy Goat is expanding — and opened a new location at the Dowd YMCA in South End.
The new location opened Wednesday, April 6, and its hours are 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., Monday through Saturday.
The initial plan wasn’t even to open a second location, owner Carson Clough told CharlotteFive. It was to find a commissary kitchen for the first location in Charlotte’s Commonwealth neighborhood (near Plaza Midwood), since customers were tearing through the food supply so quickly. But things unfolded, and the opportunity for a new Giddy Goat arose.
If you’ve been to the Dowd YMCA recently, you may have even seen Clough giving out free coffee, just trying to get people the feel of the space.
“I grew up playing basketball in Charlotte at the Dowd YMCA, and that’s where I would go if I have to do any work,” Clough said.
No one was using the coffee space at the Y, so Clough saw an opportunity.
Now, the coffee space at the Dowd YMCA serves as Giddy Goat 2.0 — including a full kitchen, two espresso machines, plenty of seating and a rooftop patio. Patrons don’t have to be a Y member to get coffee at the cafe.
“We’re trying to create a community space,” Clough said.
At first, just coffee is offered, including espresso drinks, drip coffee and nitro cold brew. Later on, pastries will be added to the menu. Eventually, the kitchen will be renovated to prepare the space for offering a full food menu.
Clough said the full details are still being worked out, but that patrons can expect the communal vibes and collaborative spirit of the original spot to transfer to the new spot.
Meanwhile, expect to see some upgrades at the original Giddy Goat location, too: Clough mentioned a dog park on the property and new drinks for the bar, including a menu of zero-proof cocktails.
Giddy Goat Coffee Roasters
Location: 1217 The Plaza, Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Commonwealth
Instagram: @giddycoffee
Dowd YMCA
Neighborhood: South End
Location: 400 E Morehead St, Charlotte, NC 28202