For 18 years, visitors to Monk’s Coffee Shop in downtown Abilene have been greeted the same way: “Hi, welcome in!”
The greeting- and much of the atmosphere- will stay the same, but the community staple is now under new ownership.
Former owner Allison Carroll recently handed the keys to Monk’s to longtime customer and former barista Wyatt Crum, marking the third ownership change since the shop opened in 2006.
Carroll said the coffee shop was originally founded by entrepreneur Jerry Hendricks.
“Monk’s got its start way back in 2006,” Carroll said. “It was founded by entrepreneur Jerry Hendricks. He set it up in 2006 and shepherded it until 2015.”
Carroll took over that April, despite having never worked at Monk’s.
“No, I had never worked at Monk’s. But I did know who Jerry was, we knew each other from the coffee shop world,” she said. “I’d worked at Starbucks for seven years and spent another three or four at Amazon, so our paths had crossed.”
The origin of the shop’s name has long been the subject of speculation. Carroll said Hendricks once told her it was inspired by the historical connection between coffee and monks.
“He told me there were tons of connections between coffee and monks... cappuccinos and Capuchin monks, that kind of thing,” Carroll said. “So I always told that story. Then one day, a customer overheard me and laughed... he said, ‘No, no, Jerry was a huge Seinfeld fan. It’s from Monk’s Café... where the gang always met.’ So now I just tell both stories and let people choose.”
Under Carroll’s leadership, Monk’s evolved into what she calls a “third space” — not home, not work, but a gathering place for conversation, creativity and community.
“I think something I’ll always carry with me is the impact Monk’s has had in our community,” Carroll said. “Hearing from staff, from customers, even people who don’t live here anymore, that this space meant a lot to them.”
One of those customers was Crum, then a college student, whose first experience with Monk’s came during an event at Abilene Christian University.
“My first interaction with Monk’s was actually on ACU’s campus... they were serving lavender lemonade and habanero lemonade,” Crum said. “My girlfriend... now wife... got the lavender, I got the habanero, and I mixed them. It was awesome.”
Crum became a regular, then joined the staff as a barista. His interest in the business soon grew into a bigger ambition.
“I just kind of jokingly, half-jokingly came to Allison and said, ‘Hey, if you’re ever interested in selling, please come talk to me,’” Crum said. “I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mind. I wanted to run with something that already had deep roots.”
What Crum didn’t know at the time was that Carroll had already decided to sell.
“Unbeknownst to him, I had already made the decision that it was time for me to pass Monk’s on,” Carroll said. “When he brought it up, I just had this sense, this knowing, that he was the right person and this was the right offer.”
But when Carroll approached Crum, she learned he was about to make a different move.
“I came downstairs from my office, and Wyatt and his wife were chatting about signing a lease in Austin,” Carroll said. “My stomach dropped. I sidled into the conversation, asked some clarifying questions... and then I said, ‘Well, you haven’t heard my offer yet.’ His eyes just lit up.”
Crum said he was surprised by what she proposed.
“I thought it was just going to be about a management position,” he said. “Then she sat down and said, ‘I’m ready to step out. Would you want to step in?’ It blew me away.”
Financing wasn’t easy. Crum said banks were hesitant to lend to a recent college graduate. But with help from family and persistence, the sale was completed.
“I was ready to graduate and step into something new. She was ready to do the same,” Crum said. “But banking... it was two steps forward, one step back. Still, we figured it out. We did it.”
Now as owner, Crum said customers can expect the same welcoming atmosphere.
“A lot of what Monk’s is, is more than branding or drinks,” he said. “It’s the smile you get when you walk in, the light we bring. I want people to walk out of Monk’s feeling even just 1% better than when they walked in.”
He has started adding personal touches, including a simple one he says helps him connect with customers.
“We just started taking names... but not in a corporate way,” Crum said. “I want to remember names. I want to say, ‘Hey, it’s great to see you again. Let’s get your regular drink one more time.’”
Carroll said stepping away has been bittersweet, but she’s confident in the decision.
“It really has felt like I was a part of Monk’s history as much as it was a part of my life,” she said. “There is something very special about this space. And I know I’m leaving it in good hands.”
Crum said his goal is simple.
“I’m super excited to serve the greater Abilene area... one love-filled cup at a time,” he said.
Even with new ownership, Carroll said the heart of Monk’s will stay the same, and for both her and Crum, that heart is as much about people as it is about coffee.
From lavender lemonade to tuxedo mochas, Carroll’s go-to order remains drip coffee with cream and sugar. Crum’s current favorite: a half-sweet cold brew surprise with no cream, paired with a blueberry bagel.
For now, customers can expect the same greeting they’ve heard for nearly two decades when they walk through the door, and maybe a smile from the new owner making their drink.