A place to sip on a cup of Joe while watching one’s favorite sports team will become reality this March as State Champs will provide coffee and sports for patrons. 

State Champs co-owners Cassy Kopp and Ally Eclarin said they want their coffee shop to be an inviting space for coffee lovers and sports fans, mixing creativity, community, sports and streetwear into a storefront and growing brand.

“We’re excited, it’s been a really long time coming and we’re excited that Kent gets to have the first State Champs,” Eclarin said. “We’re as excited about Ohio as the next person, and we want to grow the economy within here and show people that there’s a lot to offer in Ohio.”

Located at 427 Franklin Ave., the women-owned brand co-owned by Kopp, 29, and Eclarin, 33, combined their very different backgrounds to create a physical space in Kent and an online presence with a streetwear and sports focused mentality.

“We are physically in Kent, but we’ve really grown and have had the brand reach outside of the four walls of the shop in Kent,” Eclarin said. “We’re very much online and we have partners and brands that aren’t just in Ohio, whether it’s sports brands or athletes, we’ve very much expanded.”

The soft-opening for the storefront will be in early March and the grand opening party is scheduled for April 13, as State Champs has many events set in April, such as Espresso Moment of Totality on April 8. 

“We want to go all in with a bang on April 13,” Kopp said. “We’re excited to share what we love and our passion with the community.”

Kopp, a 2016 Kent State graduate, has a background in HR, retail, sales, brick and mortar startups and handles the logistical side of the business, while Eclarin, a California native, focuses on the tech, design and social aspects of State Champs.

The owners are “passionate individuals” who knew they would eventually become their own bosses and founders, Eclarin said.

“We both have a shared passion for community, growing something and giving back,” Eclarin said.

State Champs will offer a lineup of 11 menu options when it comes to coffee, tea and hot chocolate along with a menu of small bites. The inside of the shop will have a merch wall, multiple TVs for sports games, and any collaborations State Champs is currently involved with will have a presence in the shop, Kopp said.

“It feels like you are walking into an art installation,” Eclarin said.

State Champs caters to individuals looking for an early-morning cup of coffee, the average sports fans, the die-hard sports fans and people just getting into coffee or sports with an emphasis on women’s sports and athletes, Eclarin said.

“This is what made me really excited on this journey,” Eclarin said. “[Women’s sports and athletes] are really important to both of us, which you’ll see in our partnerships.” 

After the opening of more State Champs locations in the future, State Champs is looking to offer a third space, emphasizing a community based notion, the owners said.

“In a ten year plan, one of the things we eventually want to do is have our own facility with a basketball court, football field and different things as a third space for children to come and feel safe and comfortable,” Kopp said. “We want to give back to the community and the kids in the sports community, anything that we can think of that will help foster new athletes and people getting excited and into sports, especially women’s sports.”

State Champs is creating a welcoming environment to set the tone with good interactions and setting their customers’ days up for success, the owners said.

“We want to be able to impact someone’s day in a positive way,” the owners said.

Lauren Bischof is a beat reporter. Contact her at [email protected].