Hawaiian Coffee Shop Comes To Alexandria, More NoVA Locations Expected

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii isn't simply a coffee shop named for good coffee. The name refers to a legend of donkeys in Kona, Hawaii that carried coffee beans down the mountain. The Kona people named the donkeys the "Bad Ass Ones" due to their reliability despite a stubborn nature.

That legend lives on through Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii, a franchise that opened in Alexandria's Carlyle neighborhood Wednesday. The location is 2466 Mandeville Lane, below The Foundry Apartments and across from the Carlyle Crossing development.

Bad Ass Coffee specializes in Hawaiian coffee, including 100 percent Kona coffee and Kona blends. Hawaiian coffees may vary by location, but all of them are typically grown in volcanic soil and have low acidity and a mild taste due to the weather conditions.

Owner Michelle Lee told Patch the Alexandria location will be the first she and her husband will open. They signed an agreement to open two other locations in Northern Virginia, but the exact locations and timing have not been set. The agreement specifies one should open in 2024.

Despite a failed attempt to open a location in Arlington, Lee said everything happens for a reason. That brought the coffee shop to Alexandria.

On choosing Alexandria for the region's first location, Lee said Carlyle is the "perfect spot" since it just redeveloped and has apartments above the coffee shop. Passerby have shown interest in the coffee shop before it opened, including employees from the nearby National Science Foundation.

"It just felt like home here. We saw it and fell in love with it," said Lee. "The area was so welcoming even when we were doing construction."

Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii dates back to 1989 when it opened on the island of Hawaii, serving coffee from Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Moloka‘i, Kona and Ka’u. In 1995, B.J. Bilanzich and her husband were inspired to bring the brand to the U.S. mainland and started franchising. Lee and her husband were comfortable opening their own franchise with the business experience and knowledge the franchise leadership provided.

At the Alexandria location, customers can order a variety of coffees, lattes, frozen blended drinks, smoothies and teas. Food items include pastries and breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Bags of coffee beans and other retail items are available for sale.

For more information and online ordering, visit the Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii's Alexandria location website.