Meet Amy Heggen, the entrepreneur behind the Cargo District’s Coffee Fest and Blue Cup Roastery (Wilmington’s first and only container coffee shop).
Business Owner and Coffee Fanatic
Amy was seventeen when, with a little help from her family, she started her first business. Happiest in the details, she then brought her organizational powers to play across multiple industries. When Amy and her husband moved to North Carolina, she thought it was the perfect time to revisit her entrepreneurial roots.
“I have always been a coffee drinker – sometimes out of necessity, sometimes out of desperation, and sometimes out of joy,” Amy says. “As for starting Blue Cup, that was a matter of circumstances aligning and making it possible.”
Blue Cup Roastery in the Cargo District
Amy was asked to join in as manager of a coffee presence already in Cargo, and she couldn’t resist. When the opportunity to purchase arose, she and her business partner took it. Together, they envisioned a brand where high-quality coffee was approachable and unpretentious.
And so, Blue Cup Roastery was born. Specializing in phenomenal classic coffee, Blue Cup is all in the details—a space Amy knows well. They are also devoted to excellent service and brewing, impressing their regulars with a simplistic approach.
It’s the cup you want every day, because it’s always done right. It’s where habit meets happiness.
At Home in Cargo
At home in the Cargo District, Blue Cup Roastery is ILM’s first and only container coffee shop. Community-rooted and near a plethora of other locally owned and operated shops, Cargo District was also the perfect place for Amy’s business to grow.
“The food and beverage scene in the Cargo District is so unique with the local and custom options,” Amy says. She goes on to mention that their ideal location (between the 16th/17th corridor and nearby Dawson/Wooster Street) is convenient for the work crowd and visitors.
The Cargo District continues to blossom, attracting locals and visitors alike for its vibrant shopping, dining, and socializing scenes. As for the Blue Cup Roastery community, Amy says: “We are so grateful for our regular customer base—we want to be their favorite spot to get coffee when they are on our side of town and make sure they come back to see us as often as possible. Our outdoor patio makes bringing the furry family members easy, and we love to spoil them as well.”
Want that perfect cup every day? Us too. Luckily, they roast in-house and sell whole beans every day of the week, from 6 am to 6 pm.
The Cargo District’s Coffee Fest
Amy is also the savvy mind behind Coffee Fest, a Cargo District celebration of coffee brewers, baristas, shop owners, and fans. It’s one of our favorite annual events; moreover, it’s going on eight years strong!
The excitement begins on Friday, which Amy says is “…a fun way to include bartenders and baristas, as they are the faces at the counter of our businesses and build the connections with the community.”
Friday Competitions:
Located at Azalea Station
4:30 pm: Cocktail Showdown
7:00 pm: Latte Art Throwdown
Saturday is your chance to taste ILM coffees, and several from around the state. Amy is most excited to reconnect with familiar faces and make new industry friends, as well as explore all the flavors North Carolina has to offer!
Saturday Street Fair
South 15th St
9:00 am – 3:00 pm: Vendors, tastings, artisans, baked goods, and more!
The (Caffeinated) Heart of ILM
We love to call Wilmington home, but it’s dedicated business owners like Amy who make this place truly special. Thank you for all that you do, Amy!
Be sure to stop by Blue Cup Roastery for your next favorite morning brew, and explore Wilmington’s coffee scene this weekend during Coffee Fest.
