Our Story

When the previous Matthews coffee shop closed in 2016 we immediately knew we had a short window to act, so a group of interested parties started meeting and scheming. What if our growing town had a new coffee shop as welcoming as the town itself? Once we found our location we knew it was the perfect setting for our community to slow down -- a perfect fit for Matthews' origin story-- a short stop on a busy railway line. Within a few weeks the group had whittled down to three families, the Baysdens, the Johnsons and the Moores, and BRAKEMAN'S was born!

A few years in, the Baysdens moved to Winston-Salem and now Brakeman's is co-owned by the Moores and Johnsons. The Johnson and Moore families have other things going as well. For the Johnsons it's Silent Images. For the Moores, Mana. Two non-profits that we hope are doing good in the world.

As for Brakeman's, it has now taken on a life of its own. We are honored that our hard work has become a staple in downtown Matthews. We are known for great coffee and a great SLOW vibe with FAST and friendly service, but we're most proud when we hear that Brakeman's is a place for people to connect with new friends or reconnect with old ones. We have an amazing staff to thank, from our original manager Alex Brackins to our current management team of Scott Beaubien and Kyra York.

We can't claim credit for the super cool old house we call home. It's been around since 1902! It was built by Tom and Annie Garland who (is this too good to be true or what?) worked for the railroad! In 1906 the pecan tree in our parking lot was planted by Annie! It grew in a yard with the chickens and the cows. Over the years as Matthews grew, the community would gather on the front porch to watch parades on Trade Street. It was a Garland family dwelling until 1995 when their daughter-in-law moved into assisted living and the house was sold. It has since been a commercial property.

In the years since 1995 it has been an antique store, a tea shop, a hair salon and now a coffee shop! The stairwell, fireplace mosaic, and cozy little upstairs was added in 1995 when it became a tea shop for a season. One Friday evening in 2018, Tom and Annie's grandson John Garland walked in and jokingly told the baristas that they "were standing in his bedroom and had torn up his house!" We were amazed and charmed as he walked the house with us, pointing out the bedrooms and showing us the placement of the old cistern (where the back bathroom is now), and how he and his dad DIY'ed the chipped tile floor in our sunroom. And, of course he told us about the old pecan tree being planted by his grandmother in 1906. (Silent Images made a video about John, here it is! )

In a world where our public spaces increasingly have the sleek Brooklyn Coffee Shop effect aesthetic, we are proud that our quirky old house provides us with the perfect vibe to host new and old friends for a cup of coffee.