Hidden Gems: Meet Liz Weingart of 26Three Coffee House

Today we’d like to introduce you to Liz Weingart.

Hi Liz, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Well, my story began long before “the doors” to 26:Three Coffee House opened.

I have a professional background in graphic design, and have always had an eye for detail and a love for different textures, etc. That creativity naturally spilled over into decor, cooking, and baking, where flour and faith often came together in my home kitchen. Next came working in ministry for many years-teaching and leading all different ages in Christian Education. These two passions of mine came together when a woman called me about becoming a managing director of a non-profit coffee shop—this opened my eyes to something deeper: the power of coffee as a ministry-all in a very creative setting.

During those years, I witnessed firsthand how a simple cup of coffee could become a vessel for connection, healing, and hope. That experience planted a vision in my heart—a dream to one day open my own space where faith, creativity, and community could thrive under one roof. Fast forward a couple years and another individual called on me to open 26:Three. After months of managing this little shop, I was given the opportunity to become its owner.

Between my ministry background, having spent years serving others, mentoring women, and sharing God’s love in practical ways, I also began to write and authored my first book during this time, using words and my experiences to encourage others on their faith journey.

Now, here I am- as the owner 26:Three (from the book of Isaiah), God has brought all these passions together, and with the help of my tremendous employees and family, life is full of joy! From the lovingly crafted lattes and hand-baked treats, to the peaceful atmosphere and Spirit-led conversations, every element reflects just a little bit of Heaven here.

It’s more than a coffee shop; it’s is a mission field—one cup, one conversation, one person at a time. It isn’t just about coffee. It’s about connection. It’s about creating a space where people encounter Jesus—even if they don’t realize that’s what’s happening.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No way! Owning a faith-based coffee shop is a unique calling that blends ministry with entrepreneurship, and while it can be deeply rewarding, it also comes with significant challenges. Financial strain can be one of the biggest hurdles. Like most coffee shops, profit margins are slim, but a faith-based model often involves giving back—through ministry, community events, or acts of generosity—which can make it even harder to maintain financial sustainability. There’s often a tension between growing the business and staying true to the mission and taking great care of the people who work for me. But the heart behind my shop is usually to serve others and create a space for connection and spiritual encouragement, so I rely on a much Higher Power to help me manage costs, paying staff, and keeping the espresso machine running!

Balancing a small business and ministry requires constant discernment. It’s easy to get pulled too far in either direction—so focused on the spiritual side that the business suffers, or so consumed with operations that the original vision begins to fade. This can sometimes lead to burnout for me, especially because I wear multiple hats: barista, baker, purchaser, marketer, counselor, and spiritual leader. The emotional and spiritual demands can be overwhelming at times.

Staffing adds another layer of difficulty. Finding employees who not only work well together, but also understand and embody the heart of the ministry is tough. While I’ve been blessed to have some pretty incredible people to work here, sometimes training staff in both customer service and spiritual hospitality requires time, effort, and prayer. Beyond the daily tasks, there’s a deeper layer of emotional and spiritual warfare. When your business is also your ministry, discouragement, fatigue, and spiritual attacks can feel especially personal and intense. There’s also the loneliness that can come from leadership—few people understand the burden of building something that is both a business and calling.

Finally, as this shop grows, maintaining consistency becomes a bit harder. There’s constant pressure to be unique, gracious, joyful, and patient—even on hard days. Every decision, from the music played to the scripture references on our cups, carries spiritual and cultural significance. Growth also brings higher expectations from the community, making it easy to feel like I must “get it right” all the time. Google reviews, and “likes” on social media can become a huge distraction at times, and can sometimes cause me to try and keep up with the latest and greatest. Despite these hardships, I have found deep joy and purpose in this work—but it’s important to acknowledge the very real weight they carry.

As you know, we’re big fans of 26Three Coffee House. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
26Three Coffee House is a charming little shop, nestled in a corner within the Best Western Hotel in Columbiana, Ohio. My favorite time of day is very early in the morning because we’ve managed to create this warm glow! I love coming in early and enjoying the stillness of it all. But then, I also get a charge out of the rushes in the day and seeing all my favorite people! Our space caters to intimate gatherings with loved ones, business meetings, as well as special occasions. We offer convenient online orders with curbside pickup or customers can kick back and get cozy with friends and savor our great roasted coffee or a latte, and homemade treats.

WHAT SETS US APART:
Homemade goodies, unique treats, handcrafted monthly featured drinks, and consistency for sure!

WHAT WE ARE MOST PROUD OF:
Crafting a welcoming environment over coffee, embracing our community, upholding strong faith values rooted in Jesus Christ, love for neighbors, and high ethical standards. We love sharing not just great coffee and pastry, but our little daily doses of scripture on our cups! I am also very proud of my staff who always go above and beyond to make this a special place.

OUR VISION:
We envision our little shop as a bustling social center nurturing connections through quality offerings. We would love to broaden horizons by fostering genuine interactions with other businesses and even take on some bigger customer orders for organizations, etc/ We love creating memorable shared experiences and look forward to seeing our regulars and meeting new customers!

What are your plans for the future?
While we enjoy being part of the hotel, we would love the opportunity to grow into our own space – it’s such a blessing that we are running out of room to be creative! But our growth depends on what we are led by the Lord to do. Heading into a lot of unwanted debt is not something we see as a blessing, and the hotel has been a lovely place to be. We let Him direct our steps. But no matter what happens in the future, we do everything now to the best of our abilities.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.26threecoffee.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/26threecoffee
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/26ThreeCoffee