ELLERBE — Main Street Mug, a new coffee shop located at 2040 Main St., officially opened its doors on July 13, welcoming an enthusiastic crowd and receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from the community.
According to manager Ava Berry McDonald, the shop served an estimated 200 customers on opening day.
McDonald described the first day as “chaotic” but successful, noting that sales exceeded expectations and customers responded favorably to both the drinks and atmosphere. Social media buzz also helped spread the word, with many visitors sharing their photos and experiences from the grand opening online.
Among the most popular menu items were the Honey Bear (honey and brown sugar) and Pillow Talk (marshmallow, cinnamon bun, caramel) coffee drinks, as well as smoothies, bagels, biscuits, cake pops, and traditional caramel iced lattes.
Beyond serving coffee, McDonald said Main Street Mug aims to become a gathering place for the community. She hopes the shop will provide a welcoming space for activities such as book clubs, study sessions, moms’ groups and casual meetups.
“People around Ellerbe just need a place to go hang out,” McDonald said, adding that the coffee shop can serve as a place where people can relax, socialize or work while enjoying a cup of coffee.
The shop's staff completed a week of training prior to opening and includes several employees with experience from The Berry Patch, the popular family-owned agritourism destination in Ellerbe, helping create a strong foundation for the new business.
McDonald said developing Main Street Mug's menu was a hands-on process that took nearly two months of testing, tweaking and refining recipes before the shop opened.
She credited the Bloom & Brew Coffee Co. coffee truck in Candor, with helping guide her through the process as she learned the coffee shop business and explored different flavor combinations. Working alongside employees, McDonald experimented with a variety of syrups, coffees and ingredients until they found combinations they felt customers would enjoy.
“We were sitting down in here one day with some of the employees asking, ‘What sounds good together?’ and just started creating and making coffee,” McDonald said. “It was a lot of trial and error to get the drinks to where they are now.”
The result is a menu featuring signature drinks such as the Honey Bear, Pillow Talk and Golden Hour, each developed specifically for Main Street Mug and designed to offer customers unique flavors they won't find just anywhere.
The shop also offers a variety of baked goods, including homemade muffins, chocolate croissants, and cinnamon rolls.
McDonald expressed appreciation for the support shown by residents during the grand opening.
“Thanks to the community. They showed up for us yesterday,” she said. “They kept us busy and the support is really appreciated.”
With a successful opening day behind them, Main Street Mug hopes to become a staple in downtown Ellerbe, offering both specialty coffee and a welcoming place for community connection. The shop is open Monday-Friday from 6:30 a.m.–2 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m.–2 p.m., and is closed on Sundays.
NOTE: This story has been updated to remove a name. 1:47 p.m. 7-14-26.
