Coffee Prose

The Coffee Prose project focuses on revitalizing a beloved community space located just behind Millsaps College in Midtown Jackson. Originally established as a coffee shop and used bookstore, Coffee Prose fills a vital role as a gathering spot for local residents, students, and creatives. Through extensive research and competitive analysis of Jackson’s coffee scene—including visits to Urban Foxes, The Bean, and Native—our team identified opportunities for improvement in pricing and store layout. We discovered that Coffee Prose’s original coffee prices, particularly for popular items like lattes, were significantly below the market average. This insight justified recent price adjustments designed to balance competitiveness with profitability, supporting the shop’s sustainable growth.

Beyond pricing, the team explored ways to enhance the overall customer experience by integrating the coffee and bookstore elements more thoughtfully. Recommendations include adding additional bookshelves to highlight the bookstore’s high-margin potential and creating a more inviting, curated layout that encourages patrons to linger longer. Looking forward, we are also investigating the establishment of a student-led nonprofit initiative affiliated with Millsaps College. This program aims to deepen Coffee Prose’s community impact while offering experiential learning opportunities across disciplines such as English, communications, art, and business. Our ongoing partnership with Coffee Prose reflects a shared commitment to nurturing a vibrant cultural hub that serves both Midtown Jackson and the broader Millsaps community.