“Don't be false because people see through it, just be genuine.” - Lorcan Molloy speaks to us about valuable lessons he has learnt opening Limited Coffee Co, setting up at the Tiny Traders Village as well as his entrepreneurial journey. Discover all about it right here..
We are blessed in Galway with so many wonderful coffee shops but it’s safe to say there’s a special atmosphere found at Limited Coffee Co. The feeling of happiness and community is truly evident: “You have to come in to see it really, you feel it when you’re there it’s [the atmosphere] really relaxed and everyone’s having the craic”.
The past year has been a whirlwind for Lorcan, so we wanted to know what has been the biggest lesson he’s learnt since the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey: “You want to make people feel comfortable in the place and that you’re not pretentious or anything like that. Don't be false because people see through it, just be genuine. Don’t try and change for any people.”
“I think coffee shops are turning into a more community thing than it is just about the coffee anymore. That's what we really try to establish - a balance of both of them. You want to have a good buzz, sitting down and laughing”, Lorcan adds.
You could say entrepreneurship has been instilled in Lorcan from an early age. Growing up watching his parents thrive in this industry inspired him to follow in their footsteps: “My parents ran businesses when we were younger, they were involved in restaurants and bars….. they have their own coffee shops in town…that’s where I got the grá for it”.
For many years, Lorcan worked in various different start-up businesses around Galway. Stepping into the industry in this way gave him a real insight into what it’s like to run a business: “I started out working with a few start up companies with Álainn and Prataí, and I got a bit of a gauge on how to run businesses”. Lorcan’s time spent working for Álainn is where his story begins to take flight! He explains that “it really all started when I was in Álainn. I could see where starting your own thing from scratch could grow to”. The idea of setting up a coffee company had been brewing in Lorcan’s mind for years but now it was finally time to act on it! . “I thought, I’m just going to go and do what I have wanted to do for a long time”.
Fast forward a few months, Lorcan’s vision soon started to become a reality when the opportunity arose for him to set up his business at the Tiny Traders Village in Galway. Lorcan knew Paul David Murphy (CEO at Tiny Traders Village) previously from working in different businesses around Galway. Lorcan told us; “I mentioned it to him a few months before I set up the trailer and he came back saying there is a space for you if you want to go and do it”.
"We had the trailer bought and all that, and it was just sitting up in Dublin", Lorcan explained. "So there was a mad rush to bring it down, and in the space of two weeks, we had the trailer ripped apart from the inside out and ready to go: new floors, new counters, coffee machine, grinder". Within such a short period of time the trailer's transformation was incredible. Lorcan and his team were determined to get the trailer up and running ahead of the deadline. And, after just two days the van was ready! Everything fell into place in perfect time; ready to take on this new adventure in Spanish Arch. Lorcan admits that; “it should’ve been longer but it just all happened with Paul so quickly. Adding that; “It was a crazy few weekends at the start, really unorganised”.
‘Death by Analysis’ is a saying that has motivated Lorcan throughout his journey: “ it’s when you think about something too much you can keep prolonging it but if someone gives you a date that you have to have it done everything will get done- it always will get done”.
Limited Coffee Co had a summer well spent making fabulous coffee and the queues were a mile long! “It really caught on to be honest, thank God”, Lorcan says.
Fast forward to today (October 2024) and Limited Coffee Co have just parked up in Oranmore. Storm Ashley meant Lorcan’s first week opening came with a few unexpected surprises. Lorcan says “[opening was] turbulent enough so we had no electricity the first day and then we had the storm on the Sunday so we only really got Friday and Saturday out of it last week”.
We genuinely can’t wait to see Limited Coffee Co continue to grow! Lorcan told us that over the next year he would love to open up his own coffee shop: “The idea at the moment is to establish a permanent location that isn't going to move but that’s going to be in a trailer. We are hemming and hawing with the idea of brick and mortar but obviously with the cost of renting and everything that goes with a shop in town….. that might be the year plan”.
We are wishing Limited Coffee Co the very best of luck! As Lorcan says, “ you have to come in to see it”! So visit them at their new location outside Oran Town Hall Centre (outside Supervalu) from Thursday to Sunday. Make sure to check out their socials for the latest updates!
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