Our Story
The story of Lighthouse Coffee is one that began long before we ever opened our doors...
Years ago, a couple named Jared and Emily King lived in Blacksburg while working with Chi Alpha. During their time here, they often walked up and down Center Street, praying for open doors, for salvations, and for the people in this community to encounter Jesus. They even prayed specifically over the very church building we are in today. At one point, they nearly purchased the building themselves, but it didn’t work out. Still, they continued to faithfully pray for Center Street and everyone connected to it.
Several years later, that same building was handed over to Pastor Rick Sizemore to start a new church. As he stepped into this new opportunity, Rick was reminded of a vision God had given him more than fifteen years earlier— a dream to open a coffee shop in the New River Valley.
That dream first began when Rick pastored a church called The Dwelling Place. At the time, he and his team purchased all the equipment they needed to open a café, but for reasons unknown, the vision never came to life. The espresso machine, grinders, and other supplies were eventually stored away in a friend’s attic, where they sat forgotten for nearly twenty years.
When Rick saw the basement of the Center Street church, he immediately knew this was where that long-held dream was meant to take root. Around this same time, Doug Reed joined the ministry. He had experience managing a coffee shop in Florida, and soon after, their friend Lauren Latshaw, who had worked as a barista and had a heart for community through coffee, joined the team. While the contractor began renovating the basement, Doug and Lauren got to work planning the details of what would become Lighthouse Coffee.
From the very beginning, Lighthouse Coffee has been built on years of prayer, vision, and faith. From Jared and Emily praying over Center Street, to Rick’s dream from two decades ago, to the team that brought it all to life, every part of this story reflects God’s faithfulness.
We truly believe that Lighthouse Coffee exists on well-plowed soil— a place sown with years of prayer and a desire to see the New River Valley filled with hope, community, and the light of Christ.