New Coffee Shop Perks Up PVCC

Along with the New Year and new semester, Piedmont Virginia Community College has welcomed a new local business onto their campus this month. What used to be Mermaid Express has been replaced by Perk Up. They are offering a wider variety of drinks, snacks, baked goods, and many healthy alternatives such as hot teas, smoothies, and fruit.

“I have always wanted to get into business after watching my parents run their own business. I’m a very hands-on learner,” said new owner Ellie Beverly.

So when the owner of the previous coffee shop across from the library, Kristin Cole, decided it was time to sell Mermaid Express, Beverly saw this as the perfect opportunity to set her plans into motion.

At the age of 21, Beverly made the bold decision to start her own business after previous experience of working at Greenhouse Coffee. When asked about the name change and new look, she said, “We want it to look warm, welcoming, and inviting, and we want the students to realize that this is completely different from Mermaid Express.”

Perk Up is offering a greater variety of choices of both drinks and food. They are now serving dark, medium, and light roast of coffee along with lattes, mochas, espresso, and other hot and cold drinks. The coffee is brewed fresh daily and is from local coffee house, Shenandoah Joe’s. For non-coffee drinkers, there are many other options as well. These include herbal teas and fresh smoothies that include half of a pound of fruit.

If you are looking for a quick snack on your way to class or the library, Perk Up also has that to offer. And like their coffee, their fresh pastries are baked locally at Greenhouse Coffee. These include anything from cupcakes, muffins, breakfast cookies, and even kettle corn. They are also offering many gluten free and healthier alternatives such as apples, bananas, and granola bars.

Perk Up is conveniently located right across from the library.

If you are looking for a quick pick-me-up, stop by and meet the friendly staff and grab one of their delicious pastries and a hot drink.

It is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m