Brandon Wooten, Brad Uhl, and Dan FitzHenry are the trio behind Grit Coffee, which started right near UVA in 2008. They’ve since expanded their food & beverage ventures to include Charlottesville-area favorites Broadcloth, The Wool Factory, Selvedge Brewing, The Workshop, and Snowing In Space. Brandon, Brad, and Dan partnered with us for our 12 Gifts of Hooville in 2024. Get to know a little bit more about them.
Tell us a little bit about how Grit started
Grit Coffee began its journey in 2008 on “the corner” near the University of Virginia, then called Para Coffee, with a simple vision – to create a space where exceptional coffee and a welcoming atmosphere come together to serve the community. From that single shop, we’ve grown to nine locations in Crozet, Charlottesville, Richmond and most recently Williamsburg, all fueled by an incredible team and an expansive roasting operation.
When you’re back on Grounds, what’s the one place you must visit?
Brandon: There’s something about being on The Lawn that just transports me back to college. It’s an oasis amongst all the hustle and bustle of the city.
Brad: I always love making time for a stop into Take it Away, particularly when I can add Take it Away Sauce and a bag of bread ends to my sandwich order.
Dan: The Grit Coffee shop on Elliewood Ave is probably the place on Grounds I visit the most. My wife and daughter and I will get coffee from the shop and then walk to the Lawn, and the vibe in the shop brings me back to my college days.
What is your favorite UVA memory?
Brandon: I sang in The Virginia Gentlemen when I was in undergrad and we got to perform all over the world for so many interesting people. While I was in school, we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the group and we had members from the original group all the way up to the current group performing in Cabell Hall. It was amazing having that connection so many decades of VGs. We now have anniversary concerts every 5 years which has been very special to be a part of.
Brad: During my first year of undergrad, a group of friends had mapped out a frisbee golf course that traversed most of Grounds. Some of my favorite memories are of teeing off toward the Rotunda from the steps of Madison Hall at midnight each week.
Dan: When I was at Darden, we used to hang out at Sloney’s Pub inside the old Darden Inn on Friday and Saturday nights, which was like going to the Cheers bar where everyone knows your name. The Inn was demolished and replaced with the beautiful Forum Hotel a few years after I graduated. I’m not bitter at all.
What’s one thing you learned at UVA that you carry with you today?
Brandon: I took several architecture classes that truly challenged me to see things from new perspectives. I still carry forward the attention to detail and holistic problem-solving approach I was exposed to.
Brad: While I learned a lot of valuable things both as an undergraduate and during my time in grad school, I think the primary thing that I carry with me today is the value of relationships and clear communication – both personally and professionally.
Dan: The amazing professors and classmates I had the great fortune to be surrounded by during my time at Darden exposed me to so many different approaches to mitigating business risk and solving problems. I would say I draw upon that diversity thinking on a daily basis.
How do you stay connected to UVA?
Brandon: Living in Charlottesville I can’t help but stay connected. Our family loves going to all UVA sports—especially baseball and basketball games.
Brad: Living and working in Charlottesville gives us ample opportunities to stay connected to the university community, but one of my favorite ways to stay connected is attending UVA basketball and soccer games with my kids.
Dan: Our business definitely keeps us connected to UVA, if only because of the number of amazing Hoos we have on our team across the Grit Coffee shops. The students never cease to amaze me with how talented and ambitious they are.