Elliott Coffee Opens in 100-Year-Old Gas Station

Lines now wrap around the corner of a century-old building on the Ohio River in Dayton, Kentucky.

The structure, which operated as a gas station and mechanic shop for decades, has been converted into Elliott Coffee. The shop sits about 10 minutes from downtown Cincinnati and opened after the Knapp family secured a lease on the property.

Isabelle, Asa, and Elijah Knapp founded the business in 2024. Elijah Knapp left a career in software development to lead the venture. His wife, Isabelle, continued working as a nurse during the startup phase. The couple learned they were expecting a child shortly after signing the lease.

The menu features specialty beans from roasters in Edinburgh, Los Angeles, and Central America. Elijah Knapp described the sourcing process as a way to honor the labor involved in growing, processing, and shipping the coffee.

"It's not a competition as much as it is wanting to honor the product itself," Knapp said.

The owners aim to create a gathering space that reflects small-town community values. They believe the experience of stopping for coffee and meeting neighbors is a specific type of connection that is harder to find in larger urban areas.

"I think that the idea of, like, the small-town American community has mostly been lost," Elijah Knapp said. "Everyone longs for this idea of something that feels unique to their area."

Customers often wait in line for extended periods. Knapp noted that the wait has become a social event for many patrons. He also pointed to morning dog walkers who use the café as a stop on their route.

"There's something that you can't recreate about the experience of someone walking their dog here in the morning, grabbing a cup of coffee, walking home," Knapp said.

The family viewed the financial risk of opening the shop as a way to build something personal. Knapp said the support from the neighborhood has been strong.

"We've been so fortunate that people have shown up in droves to support what we're doing," he said.

Knapp acknowledged that the café experience takes longer and costs more than a standard coffee stop. He said customers still leave satisfied with the quality of the visit.