Little Light Coffee Company, local businesses nominated for Best of Georgia 

HOUSTON COUNTY – Little Light Coffee Company was recently nominated Best of Georgia for the third time since its opening.

Best of Georgia is an annual award where the public can nominate their favorite businesses. A wide variety of local businesses are nominated each year, one of them being Little Light Coffee which has been serving their community coffee since 2021. 

CEO and Owner Sophia Smith is excited to once again be nominated for the award and is grateful her team is being recognized. 

“We always tell the staff, ‘You work not for the reward. Your reward is being able to have excellent customer service, build a community that we have built and be able to serve people really well and a really good cup of coffee,’” she said. “For us, that’s always where we find joy and then the nominations like this, obviously, are super appreciated and they really help the businesses. But they’re more the icing on the cake. So we just enjoy the moment, but the good thing is that they all act the same exact way, whether we get nominated or we don’t. It’s been really fun.” 

Smith shared she is always surprised when she receives the phone call letting her know about the nomination. She said she always gets busy with day-to-day activities and anytime she receives the news, it’s always a surprise. 

She said the shop is always grateful for the support, and they always do their best to serve their community.

“It’s fun when you kind of see it play out in things like this,” she said.

Smith shares there are three tiers in the awards; Little Light has been awarded best of the best top tier for the last two years. She said there are so many phenomenal businesses that are nominated alongside her who are also deserving of being recognized. 

“We’re just happy and thankful to be alongside so many other awesome coffee shops and be considered on the list,” she said.

Local coffee shops like Bodega Brew and Morning by Morning were also nominated Best of Georgia. Smith said it has been fun to shift the narrative to a community over competition standpoint mindset. 

She shares both the owners of the businesses are awesome and have been kind to her business. 

“It’s not a surprise that they’re on the list as well. I think really at the end of the day, it’s still bringing attention to the local coffee shops in the middle Georgia area. That helps everybody. So really, it’s just exciting to be able to choose to celebrate alongside them more than really competing,” she said 

Smith also said at the end of the day, a lot of factors go into the award, and she knows the owners put their heart and soul into the coffee shops.

She said they are in sync with their goal which is to do a great job every single day. Smith shares that if one of them wins, it will help small businesses because it brings marketing and attention.

“They do what they do because they love what they do, and I think all of us are on in that same boat. I think it’s awesome, any kind of nomination or spotlight on that, on any of the local independently owned coffee shops and keeping that culture of it alive is a win for everybody. We’re excited for them,” she said. 

Other local businesses in the area have also been nominated, which Smith finds exciting as well. She shares a lot of business in other categories are people they have used before like for plumbing and electrical uses. 

Smith said it is fun to see other local businesses also getting recognition and hopes it will eventually help other businesses in the area. She said now, especially in the current economy, it is tricky for local independently owned businesses and businesses in general. 

Smith is super thankful for her customers showing up for the businesses and their support throughout the years.

“For continuing to make the community and the experience at Little Light what it is. It’s really grown to be a super special place and that doesn’t happen without having the community that we do. For us, that’s always our priority and that will always be our priority, obviously, serving a great cup of coffee as well. We’re super thankful every day that we get to keep our doors open and do what we love to do,” she said. 

People can vote for their favorite business once a day. The voting ends on Oct. 31 and results will be announced Dec. 6. The print annual will also be available January 2025.

To vote for Little Light Coffee Company and other nominees visit the Georgia Business Journal.