Amy & Spencer's Story

Amy and Spencer, Owners of Brighton Coffeehouse, hugging and smiling

A bright future is brewing.

Meet Amy and Spencer, the mother-son team that empowers the mission of Brighton Coffeehouse and Theater. They believe building a business starts with building relationships.

Amy and Spencer want Brighton Coffeehouse and Theater to be a place where connections are made. Everyone is invited to experience the power of their business.

A renewed commitment.

A renewed commitment.

Amy’s late husband, Marcus, brought the family into the coffee world. He was a visionary entrepreneur and started the popular Espresso Royale chain of coffee shops. But in many ways, Brighton Coffeehouse and Theater is different from the family’s previous ventures.

Owner of Brighton Coffeehouse, Spencer, roasting coffee beans

Brighton Coffeehouse and Theater is where Amy and Spencer continue Marcus’s legacy and elevate the customer experience. For example, Spencer has become a coffee expert after years of shadowing his father and appreciating the perfect brew. He trains each employee to understand the bean-sourcing process and the nuances of their in-house roasting. Both Amy and Spencer bring this knowledge and experience to the community, always willing to educate customers about the complexities of every cup.

It’s really special to be in a partnership where we are actually working together. We have cultivated a really special atmosphere for everyone who visits the Coffeehouse.

More than a coffeehouse.

More than a coffeehouse.

Whether you stop by for an iced latté or a fresh baked scone, it's immediately clear this business is more than a coffeehouse. It is a gathering space. A community hub. And a place for live theater, too. Amy regularly directs productions on the stage, calling upon local actors for plays like Almost Maine and Sylvia. She is a trained actor and director, and it was her husband’s vision to incorporate her passion for the theater into their business.

Amy, owner of Brighton Coffeehouse taking a customer's order

Amy and Spencer are united in their goals for the future. Spencer adds a fresh perspective to his mom’s established industry expertise. Together, they believe the community must come first. Their ambitions are greater than selling coffee or making sandwiches for the lunchtime rush. It’s about connecting with people, honoring every product, and finding new strategies for intentional growth.

Part of our mission is to focus on the community. We want to broaden the community. Enrich the community. And that is Lake Trust’s goal as well.

“Working with Lake Trust is the perfect partnership.”

“Working with Lake Trust is the perfect partnership.”

Amy and Spencer are long-time business members with deep roots at Lake Trust. That’s why they consider Lake Trust to be, “an extension of Brighton Coffeehouse and Theater.” Amy says, “It’s all about relationships at Lake Trust. And that really helps our business.” In 2019, Amy and Spencer worked with Lake Trust to secure an Elevate Grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Indianapolis for a new outdoor patio space. The patio overlooks Brighton Mill Pond and brings the coffeehouse ambiance to the outdoors. And the best part? It has consistently doubled business in the summer! More people are learning about Brighton Coffeehouse and Theater, thanks to a powerful partnership and a strong commitment to the community.

Two women looking at the same computer

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