How Two BHAM Creatives Built a Coffee Shop Centered on Connection
Craving connection? Alicia's Coffee, the coffee shop housed in Birmingham's historic A.G. Gaston Motel, was established with community-building in mind. Image: Katie Leigh Matthews
Alicia’s Coffee at the historic A.G. Gaston Motel serves up warm coffee and even warmer vibes. Connection and community flow in this place, which has a history as rich as the brews they’re serving. Baristas are genuinely happy to see customers, hugging first-timers like old friends. And that’s more than just a business practice — it’s a way of life for owners Na’imah Alicia Elmore and Rashad (Roc) Harrell. “Our true philosophy is connection,” says Na’imah. “As long as you take care of people, the people are going to take care of you.”
Alicia’s Coffee has been part of the broader Birmingham landscape since 2022, when Na’imah and Roc opened their first storefront in Vincent and quickly became a beloved fixture in the community. When the opportunity arose in 2025 to relocate to the A.G. Gaston Motel in the Birmingham Civil Rights District, they knew it was the right move for their vision.
“For me, it’s a coffee shop on paper, but really, it’s a healing place,” Na’imah says. “It’s a place where people can just connect and be free. That’s something that we have to learn as a human race. We have to learn to be free. We have to learn to heal, and we have to learn to love. And with those things, the world will definitely be a better place.”
From Making Music to Making Coffee
The initial vision began when Na’imah and Roc (who met through the music industry) took a chance on a pandemic-era career shift and decided to go into the coffee business. “I actually used to rap, but I really lost my interest in performing, so I was going to manage other artists instead,” Na’imah tells us.
“Roc’s background is videography, and I was the first artist he interviewed,” she continues. “I had him shoot the content and videos for the artists I managed.”
But in the wake of COVID, the business partners knew they needed something different. She recalls sitting at home sipping coffee and chatting with Roc on the phone when the idea to open a coffee shop took shape. “I always tell people, God has a sense of humor, because I grew up in the Mormon church, so I didn’t even consume coffee or go to coffee shops until later in life,” Na’imah admits.
More than a Coffee Shop
Once they committed to the idea, the dynamic duo knew they wanted to do more than just serve coffee; they wanted to serve the community at large. Inspired by the hotel’s history and the words of Dr. A.G. Gaston, for whom it is named, they’ve set out to create a place that makes a difference, one cup at a time.
“Dr. A.G. Gaston said, ‘Money is no good unless it contributes something to the community,’” Na’imah explains. “So for me, it’s never about the money. Money can never be the headline of anything that I do.”
Instead of being driven by the dollar, Na’imah and Roc are driven by a passion for people, and they’re grateful for the opportunity to spend their days building relationships with their customers. “It brings me joy that I get to get up every single morning and do exactly what I love,” Na’imah shares. “I get to see and talk to people, and it just so happens to be a business.”
Carrying the Torch of Dr. A.G. Gaston
The A.G. Gaston Motel sits at the corner of 5th Avenue North and 15th Street North as part of the Civil Rights National Monument. Around the corner stand the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the historic 16th Street Baptist Church.
The descendant of enslaved grandparents, Dr. Gaston grew up in the Magic City and went on to become Birmingham’s first African-American millionaire. He opened the motel in 1954 to cater to Black travelers who were often refused service at other lodging accommodations across the segregated South.
The motel was a hub for countless special events and entertainment, from wedding receptions to concerts featuring Little Richard and Stevie Wonder. It also hosted notable guests, including Duke Ellington, Harry Belafonte, Nat King Cole, Aretha Franklin, and Jackie Robinson.
During the height of the Civil Rights Movement, the motel became a meeting place and headquarters for the cause. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, and other leaders convened there regularly to strategize.
That history resonates with Na’imah, who grew up in Birmingham with familial ties to the Civil Rights Movement. She wants to carry the torch for the next generation. “When I walk through those doors, it’s simple: Be the best person I can be, the leader I’m known to be, and set the example,” she says. “Whether it’s the next generation or the elderly that marched during 1963 for me to get this opportunity, I just know my job is to be the tiller that they need.”
Partnering with the Community
Na’imah and Roc see Alicia’s Coffee as much more than a place to grab a latte. Along with serving pastries from local favorite Amber’s Desserts and supporting neighboring businesses like Voltron Printing, which operates a gift shop next door, they regularly open their doors for community events.
The shop has hosted everything from CPR trainings to youth events with Aletheia House, along with initiatives and programming with the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
On the first Tuesday of the month, the shop is home to a Community Healing Session, a communal conversation focused on various mental health topics led by Nurture Birmingham. Na’imah says they’re currently looking to use some recently awarded grant funds to help community members access mental health services outside the coffee shop.
Na’imah and Roc are committed to meeting as many needs in the community as they can. This is why, when Alicia’s Coffee was awarded a grant from Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) Birmingham, they used it to revamp their kitchen equipment to offer more food options. Now, they serve breakfast and lunch items from open until close, including waffles, breakfast and deli sandwiches, salads, and French toast — Na’imah’s mother’s recipe.
Despite Motel Renovations, Alicia’s Coffee Buzzes On
The National Park Service just began extensive renovations on the A.G. Gaston Motel’s 1954 wing, which are expected to take 18 months to complete. The project includes plans for two new exhibit halls on the motel’s currently vacant second floor. They will tell the stories of A.G. Gaston’s entrepreneurial legacy and the Motel’s historical role — both as a refuge for Black travelers during segregation and the headquarters for Civil Rights leaders. It is even slated to offer a recreation of the War Room.
During the renovations, Alicia’s Coffee and the adjoining A.G. Gaston Gallery will remain open, and Na’imah assures us the renovations won’t slow them down one bit. In fact, starting in June, the coffee shop will extend its hours to 7 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays due to popular demand. (They are currently open Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
In early June, Alicia’s Coffee will also host its first-ever Resource Week, featuring community-focused events, local leaders, wellness initiatives, and a special guest appearance from Paulette Roby, one of the foot soldiers of the 1963 Children’s March.
Filling Cups and Needs
Through the glass door at the far end of Alicia’s Coffee is the A.G. Gaston exhibit, where the businessman and philanthropist’s legacy fills the walls. Among the photos and stories hangs a simple six-word mantra: “Find a need and fill it.”
And in countless ways, that philosophy still shapes the space today … thanks to Alicia’s Coffee.
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Katie Leigh Matthews
A Birmingham native, Katie is a lifelong waterfall chaser and is passionate about the outdoors. She also loves connecting with remarkable women in the Birmingham community and bringing their stories to life. Katie has been writing professionally for over six years; you can find more of her work at Moms.com and Islands.com.