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Brothers Ryan and Alec Holland, who will soon take over the ownership of Coffee at 515, are serving up well-crafted coffees with a side of culture.

“I feel I want this to be a reawakening for Bonner,” said 21-year-old Ryan Holland of his plans for the coffee shop located in the lobby of the Five Fifteen office and apartment complex, at 515 Morse.

Alec Holland, who is 17, and Ryan Holland have taken over the managerial duties from their mother Julie Holland, who owns and operates Five Fifteen with her husband Rob. Julie Holland says eventually she will transfer complete ownership to her sons once they get the hang of the business side of things. She said she approached them about managing the coffee shop in December, after Ryan returned from spending two years doing mission work in South America. Ryan, who flew in for a month last April to help get the shop opened, said that he was more than happy to help his mom out.

“Well I was interested in helping my parents out and taking some of my mom’s hours and coming back I knew I’d want to work the coffee shop more than I was (originally),” Ryan said, noting that he had worked as a barista in coffee shops before. “It’s just kind of a natural thing since I’d been working coffee, and now coming back.”

Ryan and Alec Holland plan to not just serve coffee, but offer live music every weekend and showcase local artistic talent in the form of periodic art exhibits. Julie Holland said this aspect of the coffee shop was something she had never explored before, but she was happy to let her sons take the lead on bringing some more cultural elements to the atmosphere.

“That’s what they’re going to bring to the table,” Julie said. “They’re going to expand what we’ve got going there.”

More of this story can be found in the Feb. 18 issue of the Chieftain.

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