olaf growald
Life has a way of never going the way you plan. Take it from Katherine Morris, whose journey to opening the new Cherry Coffee Shop on Magnolia Avenue was anything but premeditated.
Morris, a self-proclaimed former “Starbucks drinker,” had originally set out to pursue a career in corporate philanthropy. So the young, wide-eyed dreamer from Argyle came to Fort Worth, got a finance degree from TCU, and later landed at nonprofit Lena Pope, where she’d work up to a position as donor relations manager. She was on her way.
Then, life happened. After five years, Morris left Lena Pope to tend to family matters. When things settled down, Morris decided to focus on a new venture — her own donor gratitude and stationery business.
For a stint, Morris ran her business out of the former Craftwork Coffee Co. on Camp Bowie Boulevard. An opportunity arose when Craftwork’s then-operations manager Macy Tatum was going on maternity leave; and Morris, naturally good with data and processes, offered to fill in. Morris ended up sticking around as director of coffee operations, while Tatum took over as director of hospitality operations.
Then, life happened again — this time in the form of a global pandemic. COVID-19 prompted pivots for businesses everywhere, and for Craftwork, that meant focusing on opening within residential communities and selling its three standalone shops to independent owners.
Morris, meanwhile, had grown fond of the shop on Magnolia. When potential buyers started showing interest, she quickly realized there was one person who truly understood the heart of the shop, its team, and the neighborhood it called home.
So, Morris came up with the wildest idea.
“It all happened very fast,” she says. “I sent [my husband] Jonathan a text message. I said, ‘What would you think if I bought Magnolia?’ And two minutes later, he texted back and said, ‘Go for it.’”
So, life came throwing a curveball yet again — but in the best way. She bought the coffee shop, revamped it, and reopened the space as Cherry in April.
Since then, the Near Southside has more than welcomed Morris’ takeover of the shop. Come on a day when she’s there, and you’d be hard pressed not to encounter someone who knows her personally. Even Kari Crowe Seher, Morris’ best friend and owner of Melt Ice Creams, isn’t shy to drive down Magnolia, lower her window, and shout “Woo!” as she passes by.
Morris says she still holds onto the dream of working in corporate philanthropy someday, but right now, she has a new mission — to use her shop as a catalyst for community, build genuine relationships, and brew some good coffee.
“I’m a pretty good, basic barista,” she says with a laugh. “I don’t want to ask my team to do anything that I’m not willing to do, so I have to learn every aspect of it. I need to be able to clean the toilets and make a beautiful cortado … This is not a ‘Katherine Morris’ thing — I’m just a small piece of it.”
from the feed
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“You’ll be fine,” a phrase Katherine says she repeats 12 times a day. Photo by Kari Crowe Seher
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“Kari and I are constant champions of each other,” Katherine says of best friend and Melt Ice Creams owner, Kari Crowe Seher.
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Constantly championed by her husband, Jonathan.
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Spending time with nieces “always fills my bucket,” Katherine says.
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Enjoying a favorite restaurant, Red’s Chinese, on a trip to New Orleans with friends.
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The Morris’ 2-year-old rescue pup, Winnie. He loves to sit in chairs.
Favorite Shops Outside the Fort
Houston: The Tipping Point Coffee
“Love the dual purpose with vintage clothing and community-centered focus of this shop.”
Brooklyn: Sey Coffee
“Phenomenal ‘planty’ vibe with a glass wall so you can see into their roasting production.”
Dallas: Wayward Coffee Co.
“Best pour over in Dallas, and the lighting in this space is fantastic.”
Mexico City: Lardo
“The ultimate walk-up situation — great pastries, great walk-up window, surrounded by plants, just perfect.”
Marfa: Do Your Thing
“Staffed by local artisans, this shop is everything you want from Marfa — cool, eclectic, with good snacks and great coffee.”
