Ellianos Coffee Comes to Folkston – By Leslie Kulwik
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The wait is over, and Folkston has officially welcomed a new coffee shop to town. Ellianos Coffee Folkston opened its doors at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, August 19, and the community wasted no time showing its excitement. More than 500 customers were served on opening day, with cars filling the drive-thru and customers eager to try the new menu. In fact, one customer was so excited about the opening that he was already waiting in the drive-thru at midnight—six hours before the doors officially opened. For owners Corey and Brandie Murrell, the overwhelming response was an emotional moment after months of planning, construction, hiring and preparation. “We had talked about bringing something like this to Folkston for a while, but it really became serious in early 2025,” Brandie explained. “Once we started looking into Ellianos and realized it could actually be a good fit for our community, things moved pretty quickly from ‘wouldn’t that be cool?’ to ‘okay, we’re really doing this!’” The Murrells felt Ellianos was a natural fit for Folkston because it combines convenience, quality and variety while maintaining a friendly, community-oriented atmosphere. “We felt like Folkston needed something that was convenient but also offered really good quality and a lot of variety,” Brandie said. “Ellianos gave us both. You can grab something quickly through the drive-thru, but you still get that friendly, hometown experience that fits Folkston so well.” The couple was also drawn to the Ellianos brand because of its family-oriented and community-focused approach. Brandie, who has deep roots in Folkston, said opening the business has been especially meaningful because it gives her an opportunity to invest back into the community she calls home. “Absolutely,” she said when asked if the opening felt like coming full circle. “Folkston is home, and there is something really special about being able to invest back into the community that has been such a big part of my life.” Turning the idea into a functioning business has been a major undertaking for the Murrell family. “It has been exciting, stressful, exhausting and rewarding all at the same time,” Brandie said. “There are so many details behind opening a business that customers never see.” Construction, equipment, hiring, training, inventory and learning an entirely new business all had to come together at the same time. “Probably managing all of the moving pieces at once,” Brandie said when asked about the biggest challenge. “There were definitely days when it felt like there weren’t enough hours in the day!” Through it all, their daughters have been part of the journey. “They’ve watched the building go up, helped us make decisions, tried plenty of drinks and food, and heard way more conversations about Ellianos than they probably ever wanted to!” Brandie joked. The experience has also given the girls an opportunity to see firsthand what it takes to build a business from the ground up. “I hope they see that big things don’t happen overnight,” Brandie said. “They take hard work, patience, risk and a lot of perseverance. More than anything, I hope they see the importance of working hard, treating people well and investing in the community you call home.” The Murrells are no strangers to working together. As a husband-and-wife team, they already work together in their other businesses and have learned to rely on each other’s strengths. “Corey is very good at the construction and big-picture side, and I tend to focus more on the details, operations, employees and customer experience,” Brandie explained. While they may not always agree, she said they ultimately have the same goal. That teamwork was especially important as the opening approached and the number of details continued to grow. “It’s emotional,” Brandie said of finally seeing the doors open. “We’ve poured so much time, energy and heart into getting here. There were plenty of stressful days and late nights, so finally seeing cars wrapped around the building and our team inside serving customers was a pretty surreal feeling.” While coffee is certainly at the heart of Ellianos, Brandie wants customers to know there is much more to the menu. “We’re definitely not just coffee!” she said. Customers can choose from sweet tea, flavored lemonades, smoothies, milkshakes, energy drinks, kids’ drinks and a variety of food options. The lunch sandwiches, breakfast bowls, smoothies and pastries have already proven to be popular choices. Among the Murrells’ favorites are the chicken salad croissant, turkey bacon ranch and ham and cheese. For first-time customers who aren’t sure what to order, Brandie recommends talking to the baristas. “Our team can usually help them find something they’ll love,” she said. For Brandie, one of the most important parts of the business is the experience customers receive when they visit. Although Ellianos Folkston is primarily a drive-thru and walk-up location, she wants every customer interaction to feel welcoming and personal. “I want people to know our baristas, feel comfortable asking questions and feel like they’re genuinely appreciated when they come see us,” she said. “Great customer service is extremely important to me.” That emphasis on customer service is one reason Brandie is especially proud of the team they have assembled. “We have put so much time into training our team, and I am incredibly proud of them,” she said. “Of course, I want customers to love their drinks and food, but I also want them to leave thinking about how friendly and welcoming our baristas were.” The opening-day response was a strong indication that Folkston was ready for Ellianos. The Murrells said they had heard residents express a desire for more local options, particularly for coffee and specialty drinks. Many people had been traveling to other communities to find those choices. Opening day showed just how much interest there was. More than 500 customers visited Ellianos on its first day, and the fact that someone was willing to wait in the drive-thru at midnight demonstrated just how eager some customers were to be among the first. “The support has honestly been overwhelming in the best possible way,” Brandie said. “Other local businesses and people from Folkston and all of our surrounding communities have shown up for us in a huge way.” The Murrells don’t want Ellianos to simply be another business located in Folkston. They want it to become an active part of the community. “We want Ellianos to support our schools, sports teams, organizations, local businesses and community events,” Brandie said. “We don’t just want to be a business in Folkston — we want to be a business that is part of Folkston.” A ribbon cutting with the chamber is planned on September 23rd, along with a special discount on select items. The Ellianos corporate team will also be in Folkston to help celebrate the new location. As they look ahead, the Murrells say their goal is simple: provide quality products, excellent customer service and a welcoming experience for the community. “Mostly just thank you,” Brandie said. “The support we’ve received has been incredible.” She said customers have been patient as the team learns, encouraged the baristas, shared posts, told their friends and continued showing up. “We know there will be things to learn and improve along the way, but our goal is simple: serve a great product, provide great customer service and be a positive part of this community for many years to come.” For Corey and Brandie Murrell, the long journey from an idea in early 2025 to opening the doors on August 19 has finally become a reality. And if opening day is any indication, Folkston was more than ready to welcome Ellianos Coffee home.
