Cary and Cindy Arsaga did not originally intend to start a decades-lasting coffee legacy. The couple, formerly a real estate agent and a surgery nurse, respectively, felt like they were not where they were supposed to be in their lives. After a fateful visit at Trident Booksellers and Cafe in Boulder, Colorado, Cary witnessed firsthand the power that a beloved community space can have on people, which ultimately led the couple to step away from their careers and take the risk of opening their own coffee shop with the hopes to replicate the feeling they experienced in Boulder in their own way.
“He liked Trident a lot because it was a local place where people would come and, you know, you’d see your friends and neighbors and countrymen and also new people. He liked that vibe a lot and thought, well, if we could make that what we do with our lives, then maybe we wouldn’t hate them!” joked Ava Arsaga, director of operations and graphic designer for Arsaga’s Coffee Roasters.
In 1992, Cary and Cindy fulfilled their aspirations with the launch of Arsaga’s Coffee Roasters in their hometown of Fayetteville that has since become a staple to both the Northwest Arkansas coffee community and the city. The company’s offerings include pastries, sandwiches, and, of course, coffee. The coffee is roasted in Fayetteville, using only green and ethically-sourced coffee beans purchased from all over the world.
Operating for over three decades, the coffee shop has morphed into an unofficial family business, with several Arsagas holding a staff position.
“I don’t think it was planned, like they didn’t have kids in order to staff their purpose, but they did, you know, create a place that didn’t feel like something you wanted to escape from. They’re good parents and the business is meaningful, and we’re a tight family. We wanted to make sure that the livelihoods of our parents and family and everybody who works for us are secure,” said Ava.
Arsaga’s has also grown its outreach within the Fayetteville community. Arsaga’s coffee can be found on Center Street, within the University of Arkansas’ School of Law library, the Fayetteville Public Library, a drive-through location on MLK Jr. Boulevard, at the University of Arkansas Art School and a seasonal booth at the Fayetteville Farmers Market.
In a region dominated by coffee companies, shops and roasteries, Arsaga’s has no issues standing out from the rest. The coffee shop is the oldest continually owned and operated in the city by over a decade and has a unique and loving atmosphere that keeps coffee lovers coming back. The longevity that Arsaga’s holds within the Fayetteville coffee community has given the family opportunities to watch its dedicated customers grow, both in age and in life experience.
“I think caring a lot about Fayetteville is a large component to Arasaga’s and making spaces that are worth being alive for,” said Ava.
This mission extends beyond the walls of the family-owned coffee shops. In place of an advertising budget, the company has a designated donation budget, providing beloved community organizations with hot coffee at events or gatherings as a way to support their missions.
In several ways, Arsaga’s has its footprint all over Fayetteville, but, to Ava, the heart of the company isn’t the coffee that it roasts or the services they offer, but the people it brings together – especially the company’s staff.
“I feel like we’ve been really lucky. The people that work for us, they stay with us for a long time, and they do incredible work. They’re the talent that goes into making all this stuff happen,” said Ava.
Additionally, the environment curated by the Arsaga’s staff brings in customers of different personalities in all stages of life, adding to the “zany” atmosphere that makes the coffee shop so unique to Fayetteville.
“We hope the energy we give off is truly everybody’s welcome,” said Ava.
If you haven’t already, find the nearest Arsaga’s and order a drink – you’ll be caffeinating yourself into Fayetteville history.