Bean There: Inside Wilmington’s Newest Café

While there’s no shortage of coffee shops in Wilmington, Bean There Café was born out of a different idea: to create the kind of café Wilmington doesn’t already have. For chef and owner Chris Hollingsworth, that means not only a thoughtfully crafted coffee program, but one that is complemented by made-from-scratch food in a space designed to feel welcoming.

Hollingsworth said that while there are plenty of places to get great coffee, the food options at many coffee shops are limited to baked goods brought in from other locations rather than baked fresh on-site, and most do not offer made-to-order breakfast and lunch options.

Nestled between Banh Sai and The Rift and Mess Hall in Cargo East, Bean There serves locally roasted coffee, house-made breads and baked goods, and food prepared fresh to order with clean-label ingredients. Quality drives every decision, even when it means slimmer profit margins.

Hollingsworth said it’s important to him to keep prices affordable while still using high-quality ingredients. Sandwiches run around $13, while pastries are under $5, and all sides are $3.

“I want people to be able to afford to come back regularly,” Hollingsworth said. “I may make less money on each sale, but I believe the quality and hospitality will keep people coming back.”

The café’s coffee program leans traditional and coffee-forward, offering only a few sweet options. Hollingsworth’s signature espresso blend, named after his daughter Delilah, is available for purchase in the café alongside a full lineup of espresso drinks and teas.

One standout is the pistachio latte, made with pistachio milk and house-made pistachio syrup.

On the food side, guests can expect elevated café fare centered on fresh-baked breads and simple, high-quality ingredients. Sandwich offerings include a turkey sandwich layered with lettuce, tomato, garlic aioli, roasted red peppers, purple onions, red wine vinegar and olive oil on house-made focaccia, as well as a ham sandwich with similar toppings and Dijon mustard. A classic BLT, a grilled cheese and a vegetarian sandwich round out the lunch menu, while breakfast offerings include made-to-order breakfast sandwiches on house-made croissants, a breakfast burrito, biscuits and gravy, pancakes and deep-fried cake donuts.

“Everything is technically house-made and baked fresh daily,” Hollingsworth said.

The bakery program is equally ambitious, featuring house-made pastries, scones, croissants, biscuits and rotating baked goods crafted by the café’s in-house bakers, who Hollingsworth encourages to experiment creatively.

“My bakers have the option to create as they will,” he said. “Their hands are never tied.”

Beyond the food and drinks, Bean There Café is designed as a neighborhood gathering space. Hollingsworth, who lives nearby and spent nearly three years building the café from the ground up, wanted the space to feel more like someone’s home than a traditional restaurant.

“I wanted people to feel comfortable,” he said. “People come in here feeling like they’re at home, like they belong here.”

That vision includes elegant but approachable interiors and a culture built around treating employees well. Staff members share tips across the entire team, earn wages above industry norms, and work in what Hollingsworth describes as a calm, supportive environment.

“The restaurant industry is notoriously aggressive, and many people can’t even make a living wage,” Hollingsworth said. “I strongly believe that it’s time for that to change.”

Plans for a family-friendly outdoor space with games and play areas, as well as plenty of shade, should be completed by the end of the month.

Bean There Café is open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2148 Wrightsville Ave.