Saralyn Hayes skipped college, pooled her savings and opened a coffee shop at just 18-years-old.

Selah Coffee House welcomed its first customers Saturday, Aug. 8, at 1115 Old Charlotte Rd. SW in Concord's Jackson Park neighborhood, giving residents a walkable café with a drive-thru, couches and meeting rooms.

Hayes, a recent high school graduate, funded the venture through personal savings, a church scholarship and donations of equipment and money from supporters, according to Business Debut, which profiled her in late July.

"I didn't really have a desire to go off to college. I didn't know what I wanted to do and I didn't want to get into student loans for no reason," Hayes told Business Debut in a July 29 interview. "The Lord put the coffee shop on my heart and he just made a way for it to happen."

Hayes said in the same interview that her previous work at another coffee shop gave her hands-on experience in the industry. Community support helped turn the idea into a brick-and-mortar business.

The name "Selah" draws from the Book of Psalms, where the word signals a pause for reflection, Hayes explained on the shop's Instagram account. She has described the shop as a place of rest and fellowship built around her Christian faith.

What's on the menu

The drink list includes lattes, chai, lemonades and other teas. Hayes's personal favorite is the salted maple coconut iced latte. Pastries, muffins and quiche round out the food options.

The interior features couches, comfortable chairs and meeting rooms for customers who want to linger, study or gather. A drive-thru serves those in a hurry.

"Excited to finally serve this community of mine," Hayes wrote on social media on Aug. 8, opening day, as reported by the Charlotte Observer.

Customers can follow the shop on Instagram at @selahcoffeeconcord or find it on Facebook.

Upcoming community events

  • Good Morning Makers Market: Saturday, Aug. 22, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at ClearWater Arts Center & Studios, 223 Crowell Drive NW, Concord. The inaugural event celebrates local artists, makers and small businesses.
  • Friday Night Flicks (Movies in the Park): Friday, Aug. 28, 7 p.m. at Caldwell Park. Free outdoor movie, according to the city's Parks & Recreation page.
  • Art Walk on Union: Saturday, Sept. 12, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Union Street in downtown Concord. Free all-day festival with handmade artwork, live music, food trucks and local brews.