Purchase comes five months after coffeehouse closure; Algiers Point location and wholesale roastery set to re-open in November with familiar favorites; plus, eyes on future expansion
NEW ORLEANS — Patrick Brennan of Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group (RBRG), announced today that he has acquired local coffee company Congregation Coffee Roasters – five months after the beloved coffeehouse closed its doors – with plans to re-open the Algiers Point Coffeehouse (240 Pelican Ave.) and wholesale roastery (1746 Tchoupitoulas St.) next month. After 10 years with RBRG, Brennan purchased Congregation Coffee for the opportunity to grow a high-quality, locally loved brand and spend more time with his family. Congregation’s Founder and former owner, Eliot Guthrie will work closely with Brennan to ensure that the quality coffee Congregation’s patrons know and love from its eight years in business will be back on the shelves and in your morning cups.
“Having the opportunity to revive a brand like Congregation, one that was loved and respected by so many people, is an honor that I’m excited to take on,” said Brennan. “This venture will allow me to continue my personal growth as a business owner while sticking to my roots. There’s a reason we chose to serve Congregation Coffee at Brennan’s for the past seven years – they’re the best roasters in the city. I plan to bring a little bit of Brennan family spirit into Congregation while always keeping true to Eliot’s brand and vision.”
Congregation Coffee in Algiers Point will open next month (date TBD) with its traditional coffee menu – year-round staple blends as well as rotating seasonal single origin coffees and bagged coffees for home– along with pastries from the Ralph Brennan Bakery. Initial opening hours will be 7 am – 2 pm (daily) with goals of extending hours later this year. The Roastery will reestablish its wholesale partnerships with local/regional restaurants and grocery stores along with restoring its coffee subscription service and local/national coffee shipping services later this year. Brennan also has future plans to expand the brand with additional coffeehouse locations throughout New Orleans.
“I’m excited to see the brand do something it was always supposed to do,” Said Guthrie. “From our initial conversations, I knew Patrick had the potential to take Congregation to new heights while honoring the ethos and mission we worked to maintain over the years. I’m looking forward to what’s next.”
As a fourth generation member of the Brennan family, Patrick began his restaurant career at nine years old in the kitchen of Red Fish Grill, where he developed a love for cooking. Since graduating from culinary school in 2013, Brennan has worked in every aspect of the hospitality industry including Sous Chef at Brennan’s and Red Fish Grill and Assistant General Manager at Red Fish Grill. He worked closely with Drew Pope, Bakery Manager for RBRG and was instrumental in the creation and success of the Brennan’s King Cake program. Most recently, he returned to Brennan’s as a Front of House Manager. After years of working with Guthrie to hand select single origin coffees for Brennan’s coffee program, he knew the opportunity to acquire Congregation was one he didn’t want to pass up.
Guthrie opened Congregation in 2015 out of the back of a shotgun house with a mission to bring quality coffee to the New Orleans area and beyond. In 2017, he expanded into retail, opening the Algiers Point café, and just one year later, the company earned a nod from Food & Wine, naming it the best coffee roaster in Louisiana. His second coffeehouse in New Orleans opened with success in July of 2019 but was forced to close the following March when the COVID 19 pandemic hit. In his eight years of business, Guthrie created a nationally acclaimed brand, winning over the hearts of New Orleans coffee lovers, selling wholesale in seven grocery stores in five cities throughout Louisiana and solidifying coffee programs in over thirty restaurants and hotels. In May, Gurthie sadly announced that Congregation would be closing its doors with hopes of finding new ownership.
For more information on Congregation Coffee Roasters, wholesale partnership opportunities and more, visit www.congregationcoffee.com, call (504) 265-0194 or email hello@congregationcoffee.com. Follow Congregation on social media at @congregation_coffee (Instagram) and @CongregationCoffee (Facebook).
About Congregation Coffee
Named after the collective noun for a group of alligators, Congregation Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee company in New Orleans. Launched in 2015 out of the back of a shotgun house with a mission to bring quality coffee to the New Orleans area and beyond, Congregation is curated with both quality and accessibility in mind. We source high-scoring specialty coffees from producers around the world in an effort to bring these special coffees to everyone. Our offer list is well-rounded, offering something for every taste.
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