Gold Medusa Coffee Co.

07/22/2026

Can you guess what sound the frother makes? 😂☕️

Here’s one sound you can count on—the espresso machine starting bright and early at 7:00 AM! Come see us, early birds. 🐦

Imperial Mercantile & Outfitters 📍 138 W. Mountain St., Kings Mountain, NC 28086

07/22/2026

Early birds, we’ve got you. ☀️☕️ Gold Medusa Coffee is now open at 7 AM—come start your day with us!

📍Inside Imperial Mercantile & Outfitters The Imperial Mercantile
Tag your morning coffee partner 👇

07/08/2026

🔥 BEAT THE HEAT BEFORE IT BEATS YOU. 🥵

This weather is disrespectful.

Fight back with 10% OFF all Cold Brew now through Sunday. 🧊☕

PS Don’t forget to reserve your spot for our Matcha & Mahjong event! Call the shop or sign up at www.imperialmercantile.com Imperial Mercantile & Outfitters

Hydration responsibly…with coffee 😉

Open
7am-5pm Tue-Thu
7am-6pm Fri
8am-6pm Sat
11am-3pm Sun

06/13/2026

A special thank you to Diego and the entire team at ASOAPIA for their unwavering commitment to the more than 400 members who make up the association. Since its founding in 2005, ASOAPIA has worked to strengthen the competitiveness of coffee producers in Apía and improve the quality of life of its members through education, technical assistance, specialty coffee programs, and market access. Today, the association is made up of approximately 400 members, primarily from Apía and neighboring communities.

Our relationship with ASOAPIA goes back several years. We had the opportunity to attend a coffee training class at their facilities in Apía, and during our recent trip to Colombia, we were honored to visit again—this time purchasing coffee from the association for our roasting class in Pereira.

As fellow advocates for coffee producers, we appreciate the work ASOAPIA does every day to support farmers, promote specialty coffee, and create opportunities for rural communities in the Western Andes of Risaralda. Thank you, Diego (SCA CVA and Roasting Intermediate), and thank you to the entire ASOAPIA team for the important role you play in preserving, educating, and promoting the coffee culture of our community in Apía. ☕️🇨🇴⛰️

06/11/2026

We were deeply honored by a special gift from Ms. Gladys from Café Reysus following our visit to her farm. She entrusted us with a remarkable artifact that was discovered on her property by her son—an incredible piece of local history that we are humbled to help preserve and share.

In Colombia, a “guaca” refers to an ancient indigenous burial site, ceremonial site, or hidden cache where archaeological artifacts are sometimes found. These discoveries offer a fascinating glimpse into the cultures and people who lived in the region long before modern settlement.

Receiving this artifact is more than just receiving an object; it is being entrusted with a piece of history and heritage. We are incredibly grateful to Ms. Gladys and her family for their generosity and confidence in us as caretakers of this important relic.

The artifact will be on display at The Imperial Mercantile in Kings Mountain, where everyone is welcome to stop by, see it in person, and appreciate this unique connection to the rich history of Colombia’s Coffee Region.

Thank you, Ms. Gladys, for this meaningful gift and for sharing a small piece of your family’s land, history, and culture with us. ❤️

05/28/2026

😍

04/24/2026

Most people drink coffee every day… but have never seen where it actually begins.

Before it’s roasted, ground, and brewed—it starts as a fruit.

These are coffee cherries.

For many, experiencing this firsthand only happens when visiting coffee-producing countries like Colombia. But coffee has a story long before it reaches your cup, and this is the very first chapter.

Stop by the shop, take a look, feel them, and if you’re curious—taste the fruit.

A simple way to connect a little deeper with what you’re drinking every day.

04/16/2026

A huge thank you to and for bringing us a beautiful bag from a farm she recently visited in Costa Rica . Funny enough, some of our guests today also happened to be from Costa Rica, which made the moment even more special.

They shared a little history with us too — how Costa Rican coffee was first exported to the world in the 1800s, helping lay the foundation for what would become one of the most respected coffee origins in the world.

Costa Rica has produced some amazing coffees in recent years, and it’s always inspiring to hear the stories, traditions, and history behind such a remarkable origin.

We’ll definitely be adding this bag to our growing collection of jute bags.

Grateful for Megan, grateful for our guests, and grateful for the way coffee brings people together.

04/02/2026

one of the kindest people in our community. We ♥️ Ms. Loretta Cozart

People of Kings Mountain

"In middle and high school, I was blessed to have teachers who guided me toward a college education and supported me throughout the process. Since nobody in my family had ever attended college, I was totally clueless about that process. I am so grateful to so many people who helped shape me into the person I am. It is humbling. I think that is why I wanted to take this role as the Executive Director of Kings Mountain Forward: I have much to give back to the people who gave me so much.

"I was born in Gastonia and lived the first year of my life in Lowell and Cramerton. When I was one, my parents moved to Kings Mountain, and my father bought our house on Gant Street, where I lived until I was 22.

"I attended North School, Kings Mountain Junior High School (Central), the Middle School, and Kings Mountain High School. In my sophomore year, I remember thinking, 'This time is going to fly by so quickly,' and it did!' I graduated from high school in 1978 and attended UNC-Chapel Hill, graduating in 1982.

"Right out of college, my husband and I got married and moved to Austin, Texas, where he went to grad school. Then we moved around the country a bit before moving to Charlotte in 1987, and raised our daughters.

"Kings Mountain has always been my 'home.' And when I think of my hometown, it is the dearest place to my heart.

"I have many friends here in Kings Mountain, and I see them around town all the time. That really makes work more fun.

"In my job, I have been honored to work with wonderful business owners throughout the city, my Board of Directors, and the city staff over the last two years.

"There’s never a dull moment at Kings Mountain Forward. One of the more exciting things we do is economic development. Currently, two buildings in downtown Kings Mountain are under new ownership. Three are under contract, and eight are undergoing improvements. That's approximately $4.4 million in active downtown reinvestment. Two new businesses were launched in the last quarter, with additional leases in progress.

"Probably our best-known program is our website, discoverkingsmountain.com, the marketing outreach arm of Kings Mountain Forward. We partner with the city of Kings Mountain and post festivals and events, things to do, places to stay, stories, trails, and how to plan your visit. This website invites folks in our region, as well as in both North and South Carolina, to visit your town and enjoy the many amenities we offer.

"If someone wants their business listed on our website directory, they just need to share that information with me at [email protected]. The business must be in the city of Kings Mountain or in the ETJ to be included in the directory.

"We also host after-hours events for the business community to network on the Third Thursday of the month. Interested citizens and non-profits are welcome to join us to learn more about KM Forward and about our initiatives.

"Our Next Level group is designed for young professionals. We gather on the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Social House by Royal T on Railroad Avenue.

"Participants determine what programs they need, and we facilitate scheduling them. We also give folks the opportunity to introduce their businesses to the group. It gives them an opportunity to share what they do with others in a friendly environment and to practice public speaking.

"Several members have gotten jobs through this group. This group caters to young people ages 21 to 41ish. If young entrepreneurs are looking for a way to network and get to know other people their age in the Kings Mountain community, they're always welcome to join us.

"I am most proud of Next Level, because young people are our city’s future leaders. It is our responsibility to offer them a place to learn and grow in a positive, uplifting way. Our next level group is like the Jaycees of the 60s and 70s, offering leadership training and guidance. One day, they will take our places and guide the community forward.

"A special program we host on the first Monday of the month is our Coffee, Biscuits, & Conversation, where area businesses gather to learn about events and other coordinated activities that they can participate in to promote their business. It’s a good group, and they're always looking for ways to work with other business owners to draw people to the city. Our next meeting will be on April 6, at 8:30 a.m., at Sweet Station on Battleground Avenue in downtown Kings Mountain. Chris Jolly has kindly offered his space for our meeting this month.

"Working in Kings Mountain has been one of the highlights of my career. I love our town. I love our people, and Kings Mountain Forward gives me the opportunity to work in this place for the community I love, using our resources at a critical time in our town's history.ce a member of NC Main Street. We have been working diligently to follow all the Main Street protocols so our application will be considered next year.

"Working in Kings Mountain has been one of the highlights of my career. I love our town. I love our people, and Kings Mountain Forward gives me the opportunity to work in this place for the community I love, using the resources we have at a critical time in our town's history.

"What I love most about Kings Mountain is our people and their passion for our community. We all want different things, sharing a common goal of building a better community for future generations. If we harness our energies and work together, we can accomplish great things. I recall the 60s and 70s, when businesspeople worked together to meet every need locally. I am confident we can do that again!

"I look back and feel blessed to have grown up here and to have been shaped by so many people of this wonderful city. It is an honor and a privilege to give back through my work at Kings Mountain Forward."

- - Loretta Cozart, Director of Kings Mountain Forward

Kings Mountain Forward's mission is to build a community of citizens and business leaders who advocate for Kings Mountain as a place to live, work, play, shop, explore, and invest. Promoting the economic, cultural, and social environment of our city.