It is with a heavy heart we must inform you that the Sparky's Coffeehouse is permanently closed. Thank you to our customers for 6 incredible years. It was an honor and privilege to meet so many interesting people. You made our dream come true, and we have so many wonderful memories of our time at Sparky's.

SPARKY’S COFFEE CLOSED IN 2019

Sparky's originally opened in Sparta, NC in January, 2014. At the end of 2013, my brother, Jeremy, and I formed Sparky's Coffee, LLP, a partnership where he was the barista and I kept track of the numbers.

We served espresso based drinks, like cappuccinos, lattes, and mochas, as well as French Press. We also served hot chocolate and a variety of specialty drinks. Our coffee was brewed with naturally grown, fairly or directly traded beans, with those grown in rainforest climates certified by the Rainforest Alliance.

When we first opened, we were in a back room of a gift shop and bakery located at The Senator's House, on Main Street in Sparta, NC. The house was beautiful and had been built by State Senator Transou in the early 1900s. The room our coffeehouse was in had a border painted by TJ Worthington around the tops of the walls. The house is now the Alleghany JAM house.

After 4 months in this shared location, the Coffeehouse moved downtown to 32 West Whitehead Street, opening in May 2014. During the next four years, we were proud to support various causes, including Alleghany CARES, Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics, Save a Pet Foundation, VFW Post 7034, Alleghany Community Theatre, Alleghany Historical-Genealogical Society, and God’s Storehouse in Galax, Virginia. Jeremy was also involved with Ashe County Little Theater. We organized 2 toy drives for Toys for Tots and supported the planting of rain forest trees through the Arbor Day Foundation.

We were certified by NCGreenTravel and received a dogwood award from them. Read our Environmental Policy.

In Sparta, we also hosted book clubs, family game nights, adult game nights, and had music events at both locations. We were very thankful to our friends and customers who attended these events.

At our downtown location, our mother baked several types of cakes, cookies, and bars which we retailed. Our dad helped us throughout Sparky's entire existance with all of our marketing and design.

Near the end of our time in Sparta, we were featured in online video short by Carl White of Life in the Carolinas:

In May 2018, we moved to Shatley Springs in Crumpler, NC. Jeremy and I were very grateful to the regular customers who have become our friends in Sparta. At the time, Jeremy said, “After four years on Whitehead, we are very sorry to leave our Sparta home. We’re excited about the move to Ashe County, but the transition is bittersweet.”

We operated Sparky's Coffeehouse out of a cabin at Shatley Springs for 2 seasons, over 2018 and 2019. We really enjoyed the atmosphere and environment at Shatley. We were delighted to get to know so many people, and share stories and coffee with them. We closed the coffee cabin in the fall of 2019.

Before opening Sparky’s, Jeremy had worked in food and drinks since high school.

He graduated in 2006 from Alleghany High School and from Pfeiffer University in 2009. After the close of Sparky's, Jeremy worked at Pie on the Mountain in Lansing, NC, and moved to Kansas City, Kansas, in the fall of 2020.

That same fall, I had a baby, Jacob, with my husband, David.

I have worked at the family graphics business, Imaging Specialists, Inc. since 2004. I graduated from Wilkes Community College in 2007 with a degree in Business Administration. In addition to my interest in small business, I also enjoy genealogy research and history projects and am currently the president of the Alleghany Historical-Genealogical Society.

We really enjoyed our time at Sparky's. Thank you, again, for so many wonderful memories.

- Claire Halsey Brooks
January 2021