Karla Paiz is reopening Roost Coffeehouse, which closed in 2023. The 14-foot trailer is situated off Geer Highway, just north of Travelers Rest and not far from the Swamp Rabbit Trail.
A first-time business owner, Paiz loves how coffee brings people together. She dreamed of owning a coffee shop, though maybe not this soon. Taking over as the business owner was the product of simply taking a risk.
She was a customer of the shop under its previous owners. She reached out about taking over when she heard it was closing late last year. She purchased the business and trailer in January 2024 and has been on the road to re-opening ever since.
Paiz has gone through the journey of new business ownership with a little help along the way. Her father is a plumber and installed a sink in the trailer while her brother-in-law helped by painting the beams black. Her boyfriend has helped and encouraged her from the beginning.
With a planned opening date of April 27, her dream is drawing near.
“It’s just wild to like, even be in the spot where I am opening up Roost,” she said. “It’s something I’ve always had in my mind that I wanted to do and open one day. I just never thought it would be in my 20s.”
Paiz hopes to become part of the community in Travelers Rest. She wants to partner with local vendors for additional offerings and also make the area Swamp Rabbit Trail-friendly. The trailer is parked along the trail so she plans on adding bike racks for those who may want a latte as they ride.
The shop will offer Unlocked Coffee Roasters coffee, along with matcha green tea from North Carolina-based green tea business, Matcha Nude. In the way of products, it will sell lattes, drip coffee, cold brew and matcha to start, along with pastries. It will have have almond, oat, and cow’s milk. Paiz plans to offer raw milk as an option.
Roost Coffeehouse is located at 952 Geer Hwy. and will be open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday from 8 to 10:30 a.m.
