Gun Barrel Coffee ‘Chugging Along’ Despite Coronavirus Shutdown

BATAVIA, IL — Many small businesses are adapting quickly to overcome unprecedented challenges thrown up by the outbreak of the new coronavirus, and Batavia’s Gun Barrel Coffee is no different. Stay-at-home orders shut down the roastery’s trade-show revenue stream, but it has tripled its online orders in recent weeks, according to co-founder Sal Dazzo.

“We’ve seen a drop in business but we’re still chugging along,” Dazzo told Patch Tuesday. “We’ve been here putting up a good fight.”

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Dazzo, a U.S. Army veteran, runs Gun Barrel Coffee with Brian Seebauer and Michael Fira. Dazzo said he and Seebauer have been working to fulfill the uptick in orders from their location on West Wilson Street while Fira takes care of the business’ technology demands remotely. The roastery has even had to extend its operating hours on Saturdays to meet the increased online demand, Dazzo said.

Gun Barrel Coffee, located at 4 W. Wilson St., is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.

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Though internet orders are nothing new to their business, the three friends have had to give up their regular trade-show travels after Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a stay-at-home order in mid-March.

With trade shows, flea markets and charity events out of the picture, Dazzo said he misses meeting first responders and other veterans and “seeing the surprise on their face” when they try the roastery’s coffee blends. Dazzo, who roasted coffee as a hobby before turning it into a business with Seebauer and Fira, described Gun Barrel’s coffees as “smooth, less acidic and easy on the tummy.”

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Gun Barrel Coffee donates $1 from the sale of each bag of coffee to organizations that support veterans and first responders, including the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans, the Oscar Mike Foundation, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, the Chicago Police Foundation and the Illinois chapter of the Rolling Thunder Charities.

“It’s damn good coffee for a damn good cause,” Dazzo said.

In addition to individual bags of coffee, the roastery also sells several monthly subscription plans, coffee mugs and apparel.

Gun Barrel Coffee offers free delivery to customers in the Tri-Cities area who buy at least two bags or K-cups. Curbside pickup is available by placing an order online at gunbarrelcoffee.com or by calling (331) 248-1047.