One coffee shop replaces another at Independence Golf Club

Coalesce Coffee opened in recent months in the renovated former Josie’s Coffee & Boutique space at Independence Golf Club. (Photos courtesy Coalesce Coffee)

Around this time last year, Lindsay Korman went to hit some balls at Independence Golf Club on a day off from running her coffee truck, Coalesce Coffee Co.

While she was there, she happened upon Josie’s Coffee & Boutique, the café that operated inside the Midlothian golf course’s clubhouse.

“I just happened to walk into Josie’s little shop, and I thought it was really cool,” Korman recalled.

Korman got to talking with Josephine Parlanti, the owner and namesake of Josie’s who had opened there in 2023.

Parlanti recalls the meeting as well.

“Lindsay just happened to be at Independence and we got to talking and she told me she owned a coffee truck and ‘I said if somebody were to offer me some money (for Josie’s) I’d sell it,” Parlanti said. “And before you know it, she said ‘are you serious?’”

Lindsay Korman

Soon after, Korman bought Parlanti out of her lease at Independence and took over Josie’s space, transforming it into the first brick-and-mortar location for Coalesce Coffee.

Coalesce opened there in recent months after significant renovations of the space by Korman and her family members.

Korman, 33, said the opening of the shop is the culmination of a business dream she’s had for years, even before starting Coalesce as a mobile coffee shop three years ago.

“I grew up going to Wrightsville Beach and was obsessed with the Wings (beachwear) store. I said, ‘I’m going to grow up to own my own store.’ Whatever it was going to be it was going to be something of my own,” she said.

After studying business at Coastal Carolina University, Korman moved back to Richmond working in data entry, marketing, and a small investment firm. But she always held onto the idea of entrepreneurship. She says she tried a beach towel business and a yoga studio and along the way started an LLC with the name Coalesce in it, unsure of how she’d apply the brand to a business idea.

Then three years ago she decided to try Coalesce as a coffee truck.

“It was something affordable at the time and I figured I could start there and see if I liked it,” she said.

Coalesce is open seven days a week at Independence

She’s since been a one-woman show running the truck at weddings, corporate events and other outings. Now, with a shop of her own, she’s getting used to being indoors in a more temperature-controlled setting.

“It’s really cool to not be out in the elements. It’s nice to be inside,” she said. “And it’s nice to have a set schedule because the coffee truck is sporadic.”

Coalesce is open at Independence seven days a week from 7 a.m. to noon.

Korman still has the truck and will continue to use it.

“The coffee truck is a hustle which I really enjoy but I also enjoy the calm atmosphere of the shop as well. I have a nice balance of both worlds,” Korman said.

Coalesce is one of several outside businesses that operate on the grounds of Independence. Owner Giff Breed uses the club’s varied spaces and acreage as a laboratory of sorts to experiment with all sorts of businesses to complement traditional golf club activities and attract visitors to the club for more than just golf.

Elsewhere on the grounds are physical therapy practice Royal Treatment, dental practice Fairway Smiles and ropes course Canopy Adventure Park.

Korman’s Coalesce Coffee is not affiliated with the similarly named Coalescence Coffee, which is opening in the Arts District in downtown Richmond.

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