Stroll down Bridge Street in Phoenixville and you’ll see many excellent eating establishments. Have you visited Get a Cup, Give a Cup yet?
Get a Cup, Give a Cup (GCGC) is a charming store where you can relax at the small bar overlooking Bridge Street or at one of the small tables. Coffee, organic beverages and yogurt are on offer, and it has goodness built in.
The goal of the business is to stand for a bigger purpose than just making money. Justin Hartman, one of GCGC’s owners, said, “We donate to Nourish Mobile Market, Phoenixville American Cancer Society and the Phoenixville Senior Center. Nourish Mobile Market is one of our favorites because they sell fresh produce with their food truck and employ individuals at twice minimum wage. They sell the yogurt we donate and make money for their nonprofit. It’s a true win-win!”
If that’s not enough charity, for every yogurt purchase GCGC donates a small yogurt to Phoenixville area food banks. GCGC tallies up all yogurt sales on a biweekly and monthly basis and delivers yogurt to local food banks. If the shop has more yogurt than the food banks need, GCGC has tickets that can be given to individuals who go to the food banks. The ticket can then be brought into GCGC to redeem a free yogurt with a topping.
Owners Justin and Ashley Hartman first had Greek yogurt about six years ago as it started to become more common in the health world. After having regular, good creamy Greek yogurt, they found they couldn’t even eat regular yogurt again; the soupy consistency just didn’t compare.
“About 2 years ago, Ashley and I traveled to Greece and while we were there we found the loveliest little Greek yogurt shop in Athens. They served Greek yogurt with honey and spoon sweets (sweet fruit preserves common in Greece), and it was absolutely delicious and very popular with both tourists and locals,” said Justin.
On the long flight home, Justin couldn’t stop thinking about how good it was and how great it would be to have something like that in the states. “I did some research and found that it really only existed in New York and Seattle,” said Justin. “We also have always wanted to do something socially responsible, so we thought, ‘Why not give a cup away each time one is purchased?’ That is when the concept really took hold. I had most of the business plan thought out over the 10-hour flight back to the U.S. From there we just needed to put the idea into reality!”
Justin also works in international finance at Vanguard and has six years of experience in the restaurant industry through his high school and college years. “I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, but I never quite found anything worth pursuing. After discovering the idea of Greek yogurt, I ran with it,” he said. His wife Ashley majored in English and psychology and now works with kids that have special needs.
“We have lived in the Phoenixville area for over four years and love the eclectic and active lifestyle and overwhelming sense of community. We want to represent this culture and provide Phoenixville with a product that is not only healthy and delicious, but one that makes a difference,” Justin explained.
GCGC sources the yogurt locally from Seven Stars Farm. Its organic grass-fed cows provide milk for a smooth, rich and creamy Greek yogurt that’s packed full of nutrients and protein but still low in sugar and sodium. Greek yogurt is strained, which removes about 40% of the sugar and sodium and results in a thicker yogurt. The key factor is fresh, not frozen, yogurt. “We can serve Greek yogurt all day and all year long,” said Justin.
GCGC offers the following sweet and savory combinations perfect for a snack or a meal:
Sweet
Blueberry Mojito: lemon Greek yogurt, organic blueberries, mint, blueberry honey, spritz of lime, sprinkle of organic raw sugar
Cinnamon Bun Dream: vanilla Greek yogurt, organic apples, grumpy bear granola, drizzle of sticky bun honey cream
Apple Pie: vanilla Greek yogurt, apple pie preserve, grumpy bear granola, drizzle of golden nectar honey, served w/cinnamon sugar pita chips
Raspberry Chocolate Crumble: vanilla Greek yogurt, raspberries, chocolate creme cookie, raspberry honey, chocolate chunks
Savory
Guacamole Dip: original Greek yogurt, homemade guac, cucumber, cilantro, olive oil, cracked pepper, served w/organic blue corn tortilla chips
Spinach & Artichoke: warm spinach, artichokes, aged pecorino romano, topped with our house-made smoked paprika yogurt, served w/herb pita chips
Uncle B’s BBQ Dip: original Greek yogurt, Uncle B’s barbecue sauce, garlic, spices, scallions, served w/organic corn chips
“We recently added a smoothie called the Compost, which as a variety of organic fruits and veggies, and we plan to add soups in the future as well,” said Justin.
GCGC also sells a variety of coffees and hot teas. The coffee is from a local coffee company called Cavebird Coffee. Glen Shorley, the founder, grew coffee in Uganda and decided to start his own coffee company. All the profits from his business go back to building wells in Uganda. GCGC’s cold brew coffee combined with the organic grass-fed cream from Seven Stars is very fresh and delicious.
All these different flavors equal a perfect yogurt experience inside GCGC and out. Be sure to take a moment to enjoy the atmosphere. “We have a very modern rustic space that is characterized by the white shiplap walls, exposed brick and reclaimed pallet board walls. We wanted to create a space with a positive vibe that people wanted to spend time in,” explained Justin.
“We are also environmentally conscious. All of our yogurt cups and utensils are compostable. We have a stretch goal of being zero waste where we could recycle and compost everything, so nothing goes to the landfill.”
Justin said that, like any other small business, managing all the aspects of the business can be a challenge, and their customers are definitely the best part about the business. “They are so passionate and kind to us and we appreciate them greatly.”
GCGC is the place to be—where eco-friendly, responsible, locally sourced food meets a delicious customer experience.
Find GCGC at 239 Bridge Street in Phoenixville; phone: (484) 302-5936.
- Photos: Christine Tarlecki
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