With walls adorned by colorful posters, bright lights scattered across the ceiling, and the welcoming smile from local West Chester small business owner Ghiovanna Dennis, any person is greeted with open arms while visiting The Coterie.

Dennis established her cafe on May 7, 2024, to create a place to cultivate community, using food as a “lure”. 

“Food is the best way to everyone’s heart,” Dennis told Spark. 

Dennis’s mission is to foster close-knit connections among those who visit The Coterie. 

“Coffee is just the bait,” said Dennis. “I use my space to bring people together who would not normally cross paths.” 

Forming groups of people who can embrace their love of coffee is a big part of Dennis’s mission. 

“The Coterie is a place I know I can go to enjoy the company of others,” a frequent Coterie visitor anonymously told Spark. 

She generates conversations with her customers through board games, food, and small talk.

Her customers find themselves coming back not only for coffee, but also for community. 

“They meet people that they otherwise would not have without being here,” said Dennis. 

Dennis described The Coterie’s main goal to be a creative playground that fosters ideas.

“People who have an idea, maybe they want to start a new business or make new friends,” said Dennis, “they can come here and they can test those ideas out.” 

Dennis does not have a staff, which results in her working all the hours. This does not stop her from appreciating the way she contributes to the community. 

“Getting to see people brought together, getting to see new ideas born,” Dennis said, “that’s the most rewarding part of it all.” 

Dennis’s mission statement and company goal can be defined by the word that is featured as the title of her cafe. 

“‘The Coterie’ means one place where people with like interests gather,” Dennis described. 

Dennis is not only a small business owner of The Coterie, but she is also a cosmetologist. For the last 18 years, Dennis has practiced hairdressing, and for the last two, she has independently worked. 

Dennis’s hard work as a single mother of four has helped inspire her son Gianni Lora. 

“I admire my mom’s work ethic,“ Lora told Spark. “She just always knew what switch to flip to get what she needs done.” 

She pushes her son to follow in her footsteps and pursue independence. 

“She has always pushed me to never give up,” Lora said. 

His mother’s determination has now inspired Lora to consider a degree in business himself. 

“I admire my mom’s work ethic,” Lora described. “I have always wanted what she had.” 

He strives to be like his mother in many ways. 

“She is a hard worker and I want to be just like that when I am older,” said Lora. 

Lora described how Dennis’s business has impacted the person she is; it makes her more able to be herself. 

“Being a business owner is a huge part of her personality,” said Lora. “If you were to know my mom, you would know it makes so much sense why she is doing what she does so well.” 

Lora notes that his mom is independent, true to herself, and individualistic: all traits that have aided her in the process of becoming a business owner. 

Dennis goes above and beyond, and Lora believes she deserves immense credit for the work she does, in her career and as a mother. 

“My mom deserves a clap and a cheer from time to time because she does a lot more than people think,” Lora said. “When I was young with my brother and sister, she made sure we loved the lives we grew up on.” 

Though Lora details that his mother has earned praise, he says that she does not need it. 

“I think she does not need the credit, of course, I do think she [deserves it],” said Lora. 

This is due to the fact that Dennis is an authentic, genuine, and true-hearted person, Lora recounted. 

When reflecting on Lora’s childhood, he especially knows this to be true. At times, Lora said things might not have been perfect, though Dennis did not let her children know it. 

“She always made sure [we thought] everything was okay,” said Lora, “even when it was not.” 

When Lora was young, Dennis never let them see how hard she worked, though she did this work just to see her children smile.