A new locally owned coffee shop and ice cream spot is preparing to open on Owensboro’s east side, offering a wide variety of drinks and a family-friendly concept.
Ashley Heady, owner of Porch Light Coffee and Creamery, said the business grew out of a longtime personal goal.
“I’ve always wanted to own a coffee shop,” Heady said. “This opportunity came along, and I decided to take the leap and see where it goes.”
Porch Light Coffee and Creamery is located at 3245 Mount Moriah Avenue and is targeting an early May opening.
Heady said the shop will focus primarily on beverages, with an emphasis on variety and customization.
“I don’t want a limited menu,” she said. “I want people to be able to come in and get whatever kind of coffee they like.”
Customers can expect traditional options such as espresso and Americanos, along with a wide range of flavored lattes and drinks. Heady said she plans to offer extensive sugar-free options — an area she believes is often lacking at other shops.
“A lot of places are limited on sugar-free flavors,” she said. “I want just about every syrup to have a sugar-free option.”
The menu will also feature specialty drinks like matcha, with plans for house-made additions in the future.
“I’ve started working with matcha more and adding flavors to it,” she said. “I’d like to create my own fruit purees and eventually develop house syrups.”
In addition to coffee, the shop will include ice cream, giving families a place where both adults and children can find something they enjoy.
“We’ll have ice cream too — that’s the creamery side of it,” she said. “It’s a one-stop spot for parents and kids. You don’t see a lot of places that offer both.”
Heady said the name “Porch Light” was inspired by her own daily routine.
“I usually drink my coffee out on the porch in the mornings,” she said. “The name just felt right and stuck with me.”
She believes the location fills a need on that side of town, noting nearby schools, businesses, and steady traffic.
“There aren’t many local coffee shops in this area,” she said. “With the new schools, Walmart, the bank, and nearby neighborhoods, I think it’s a great spot.”
The shop will include a drive-thru and is expected to operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Heady said she plans to hire between 10 and 15 employees to support both the drink service and a small food offering.
Looking ahead, she hopes to develop a lineup of “Porch Light favorites” based on customer feedback.
“I want people to try things and tell me what they like,” she said. “Then we can build our menu from there.”
Originally from Muhlenberg County, Heady has lived in Owensboro for about two years and said she is excited to bring her vision to the community.
Coffee beans for the shop will be sourced through a supplier that imports beans from Venezuela and roasts them fresh upon order.
“Hopefully it grows from here,” she said.
