New coffee shop Willow Wood brings a fresh taste to Cornelius

What’s happening: Willow Wood Coffee, located at 19801 S Main St. in Cornelius, opened at the end of April after the pandemic stretched out planning stages through labor and material shortages.

• Since opening, Lytle tells us that Saturday and Sunday brunch business is booming with people lined up outside of the door.
• “The opening weekend was great but the feedback we received from the community has only gotten better since then,” said Lytle. 

The menu: Willow Wood offers fresh locally roasted coffee as well as inspired breakfast and lunch dishes.

• Coffee beans are roasted in Statesville and delivered to the shop the same day for freshness.
• Most of the item names have a significant connection to the owner’s Virginia roots. Bluestone, a state park from both of the owners’ hometown of Hinton, WV, is also known as a signature drink. This drink includes espresso, vanilla, chocolate, almond milk and caramel drizzle.

The vibe: The owners incorporated their love for nature into the shop with a 20 foot wide weeping willow mural to add a cozy vibe.

• Both indoor and outdoor seating are available to enjoy tasty menu items. 

• Co-owner Sherry Augustine wanted to provide a space for people in the community to gather and grab great coffee.
• “We wanted to be the cool coffee shop, the kind people hope to find when they’re traveling, right here in Cornelius.” Augustine said. 

What’s next: The owners hope to expand at some point in the future after so much support from the area. 

• Although there are talks of a second location there is no tentative date for another opening at the moment.
• Lytle says the community can look forward to a possible menu expansion when the weather changes.