A new locally owned coffee shop officially opened its doors on April 4, bringing fresh-roasted beans and a personal touch to the community at Love Coffee Roasters, 33473 Lake Road in Avon Lake.
Owner Chris Schilla welcomed customers throughout the day as the shop celebrated its grand opening in the space formerly home to Goonie’s Dog Shop.
For Schilla, the opening marks the realization of a longtime goal rooted in both passion and personal history.
“I’ve been wanting to kind of do this. It’s been a dream to roast my own beans one, and then to be able to serve prepared coffee drinks to the community,” he said.
After serving four and a half years in the U.S. Army, Schilla returned to Northeast Ohio in 2023 and settled in Avon Lake, where he quickly saw an opportunity.
“This is my community here, so I just can’t wait,” he said.
“I feel like this was the gap that’s needed in this neighborhood specifically, to bring that coffee shop environment.”
Love Coffee Roasters builds on Schilla’s family roots as well. His family immigrated from Sicily to Cleveland in the early 1900s, where his great-grandparents operated a produce stand at the historic West Side Market.
Inside the shop, customers can expect a menu of handcrafted drinks, many of which have already proven popular on opening day.
“The cookie butter latte is a top seller,” Schilla said.
“We almost sold out of it, so people seem to enjoy that.”
Another standout is the tiramisu latte, which Schilla said has been a favorite even before opening the storefront.
“Me and my wife have been doing it for two and a half years before this at events, and the tiramisu is always the seller,” he said.
In addition to beverages, the shop offers a selection of bakery items, including a mix of in-house and sourced treats.
“The New York style cheesecake we do, and the apricot and raspberry Linzer cookies we do,” Schilla said.
“But then we also have cannolis, lemon bars, and we’re going to have chocolate croissants.”
More menu options are expected in the coming weeks as the business continues to grow, including breakfast sandwiches.
At the heart of the operation, however, is Schilla’s commitment to quality coffee. He roasts his own beans in small batches at a separate facility, allowing him to maintain full control over the final product.
“I would say just being able to roast my own beans, control the quality of the coffee, it’s obviously the heart of every drink,” he said.
“Having a good quality bean that’s strong and caffeinated is good. It’s not overcomplicated either. It’s just coffee.”
Schilla said the roasting process is both hands-on and rewarding.
“I roast my own beans, usually small batches of like 15 to 30 pounds,” he said.
“It takes me a couple hours a day and I love doing it.”
As a veteran-owned, locally rooted business, Schilla said his goal is simple: create a welcoming space while delivering quality drinks.
“Everything we do is about quality and community,” he said.
“I just want to be able to caffeinate everyone that comes in here and give them a good experience.”
