Jittery Joe's Brews Success in Georgia

Jittery Joes

In 1994, two brothers decided to open a 24-hour coffee shop in downtown Atlanta. Around that time, The Simpsons aired an episode in which Marge visits a diner named Jittery Joe's. The two were inspired by that name, and after a quick search discovered that it was not trademarked. The pair re-branded their business as Jittery Joe's. In 2002, the brothers sold the business to current co-owner and CEO, Bob Googe. He and his team franchised the company and now wholesales to all 50 states. They work hard to source their coffee through direct trade, mainly from farms abroad in Nicaragua, Brazil, Colombia and Rwanda and Sumatra. Today, Jittery Joe's has 9 stores in Athens, 17 locations nationwide, and even sells out of a small shop in Japan.

“Georgia is a great place to do business and has easy access to all parts of the world. I travel to farms around the globe and am able to get there a lot quicker and more efficiently than my friends elsewhere.”
– Bob Googe, Co-Owner and CEO, Jittery Joe’s

WHAT GEORGIA OFFERS JITTERY JOE'S

  • Collaborated with the University of Georgia food science program in product development and research
  • Partnerships with state public institutions to sell their coffee on campuses

AWARDS

  • #1 24-hour Coffeeshop in the Nation, Rolling Stone magazine, 1995
  • Georgia’s Most Innovative Small Business in the State, 2010
  • Best Coffee Shop in Athens, Athens Banner-Herald, 2003-2016
  • Best Coffee Shop, Flagpole Magazine, 2010-2016
  • “Sumatra Wahana” flavor named one of the top 10 coffees in the nation, Saveur Magazine, 2013
  • Community Impact Business of the Year Award, Athens-Clarke County School Board, 2012
  • Community Youth Development Award, Athens-Clarke County, 2009
Jittery Joes Case Study

Learn more about what Georgia can do for Food Processing and Small Business.