Community rallies to save coffee shop, help local veterans
DURHAM (WTVD) -- A former Marine Corps sergeant is serving up more than lattes and beer on West Parrish Street in Durham.
"My three employees are all combat veterans who are unemployed," explained Matt Victoriano. "Their VA payments didn't come in. They got evicted from their houses, and they didn't have any place to live. Nobody would hire them."
So Victoriano did just that. He opened up The Intrepid Life Coffee & Spirits bar in downtown Durham. But, now he is the one facing hard times. His coffee shop is at risk of closing.
"I'm closing because I'm five months behind on rent," said Victoriano, admitting he needed a stronger business plan when he opened the bar a year ago.
He says his landlord had originally given him time to grow his business and pay rent. That is, until he received an email telling him to hand over his keys in three weeks.
Victoriano says he's committed to his business -- sometimes working 18 hours a day. He adds that he also needs more customers, people willing to drink up and experience his vision for local veterans -- especially the more than 772,000 unemployed service men and women nationwide.
"I know what they're capable of," he said. "Other coffee shops would turn them away and say you don't have any experience. Well, I know I can train them up in a day. And they did it! They did it well!"
News of Intrepid's closing is spreading fast on neighborhood listservs in Durham. Residents are making a public plea on social media, calling for more customers to visit the coffee bar.
Thursday, a constant flow of customers kept Victoriano busy behind the counter, but he fears it may be too little, too late. He's facing a Sept. 7 deadline.
Karen Male, a frequent customer, is engaged to a retired Marine. She's holding out hope the community will rally behind Intrepid and its honorable cause.
"You get to know people here and they recognize you. They know your name. They know your order, and you just feel good coming in and connecting," Male said. "It's hard to get that at bigger chains."
A bigger bottom line is exactly what Victoriano will need to keep his door open and the coffee brewing. He's concerned for the Green Beret and the two Marines that call his business a home.
"It's unfortunate when I close down, those guys are going to go back to not having jobs," Victoriano said. "There are a lot of combat veterans in this community with a lot of potential. It takes some work to help sand off those rough edges, to work with them to adapt to the environment. People should take them in and give them jobs."
