About Agora Downtown

Agora Downtown Coffee Shop, owned by sisters MJ Stone and Andi Stone Chitty, is a coffee shop, used bookstore, gift shop, and a tremendous labor of love.  Located in one of the oldest buildings in Fredericksburg (built in 1787), and most recently a residence, Agora is described by customers as feeling like a friend’s house that also serves you coffee and delicious homemade treats.

 


Here’s what you’ll find:

Espresso, coffee, tea, & other drinks
Specialty liquor drinks
Baked goods and sandwiches
Free wifi
Printing Services (color and b&w)

Dog-friendly outdoor seating
Live performances
Local handmade wares by over 90 local entrepreneurs
Used books
Plenty of charging stations/outlets


As teenagers, MJ’s dream was to open a coffee shop and Andi knew she wanted a bakery.  Being so young and close in age, we of course did not get along well enough to consider having them combined into one, but we used to joke about having them next door to each other!  We grew closer in college and, at the suggestion of our mother to open a coffee shop/bakery downtown, jumped on the idea.

At the time, MJ was finishing her M.S. in Business at Elmira College in Elmira, New York, and Andi was in her last year at Virginia Tech getting her degree in Food Science and Technology.  We spent our last year in school having Skype meetings to write our business plan and visiting coffee shops in New York and Virginia to meet with their baristas and owners.  Big, grateful shout-out to Collegetown Bagels in Ithaca, NY and Soulful Cup in Corning, NY who sat down with us for hours in 2014 teaching us about running a coffee shop!

Immediately after graduation in 2014, we dove in as a family to find a place, renovate it to rezone it into a commercial space and then into a restaurant, and staff it.  As a stubborn “do-it-yourself-er” family of 7, we ended up spending almost eleven months working close to full-time on a tight budget to get the space ready.

Our first day open was May 2nd, 2015.  We didn’t have any employees until 5 months in, so while Andi and MJ put in about 120 hours a week each, our two younger sisters and our little brother often helped out behind the bar, our father worked maintenance for us, and our mother took care of the outside landscaping and came in a couple times a week to make sandwiches in the coffee shop’s kitchen for us to sell.  With everyone pitching in, it truly became a family-run restaurant.

Since then, we’ve grown a lot in both staff and offerings in the coffee shop.  We even roast our own beans, now! With all the hard work put into Agora, it has turned into something incredible that we and many others have fallen in love with.  We have wonderful baristas and customers that quickly turn into some of our best friends, delicious high quality baked goods and espresso drinks, and the unique ability to help out the community by representing artists, contributing to community events, and hosting fundraisers for local causes.  It has actually become a dream come true.

If you’re reading this because you’re interested in visiting Agora, we hope you stop by and enjoy our labor of love!

 

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Meet Our Team

Andi Headshots

Andi

Co-Owner, Baker, Barista, Coffee Roaster

Favorite Agora drink right now: Hot Americano, black

Fun Fact: Andi spends her days playing "monster" and reading and writing storybooks for her two young children, in addition to owning Agora.

Been with Agora since: The Beginning

MJ

Co-Owner, Operations Manager, Barista

Favorite Agora drink right now: Hot Latte

Fun Fact: MJ is a talented pyrographer

Been with Agora since: The Beginning

Agora Headshots
View More: https://kwhphotographs.pass.us/agora-fam-headshots

Kacie

Manager, Senior Barista, Macaron Baker

Favorite Agora drink right now: Lavender Honey Latte with oat milk

Fun Fact: Kacie is a classically trained ballet dancer, but her favorite styles to perform are contemporary and tap

Been with Agora since: May, 2017


 

Keri

Maintenance Manager, Baker, Senior Barista, Coffee Roaster

Favorite Agora drink right now: Soy Raspberry Matcha Latte

Fun Fact: Keri is currently a student at the University of Mary Washington, studying Computer Science

Been with Agora since: September, 2016

View More: http://kwhphotographs.pass.us/agora-fam-headshots

 

View More: http://kwhphotographs.pass.us/agora-fam-headshots

Mary

Floor Manager, Baker, Senior Barista

Favorite Agora drink right now: Cortado with soy milk

Fun Fact: Mary is covered in tattoos, a few of which she has done herself

Been with Agora since: September, 2018


 

River

Kitchen Manager, Senior Barista, Baker

Favorite Agora drink right now: Iced Americano

Fun Fact: River used to be an oceanfront lifeguard. He is an avid runner and swimmer and hopes to one day compete in a triathlon

Been with Agora since: November, 2019

Agora Headshots

 

View More: http://kwhphotographs.pass.us/agora-fam-headshots

Kristy

Baker, Head Roaster

Favorite Agora drink right now: Pumpkin Cinnamon Spice Latte with soy milk

Fun Fact: Kristy is a both a Master Gardener and a Master Food Volunteer

Been with Agora since: The Beginning


 

Linda

Baker

Favorite Agora drink right now: London Smog

Fun Fact: Linda's favorite thing to bake is pies

Been with Agora since: April, 2019

Agora Headshots

 

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Brayden

Office Assistant

Favorite Agora drink right now: Brown Sugar Cinnamon Maple Latte

Fun Fact: Brayden is currently learning to be a blacksmith

Been with Agora since: November, 2019


 

Brandon

Barista

Favorite Agora drink right now: Iced Honey Lavender Latte with oat milk

Fun Fact: Brandon is an artist who loves to work with watercolor and hand lettering. He's also obsessed with thrifting and plants

Been with Agora since: January, 2020

View More: https://kwhphotographs.pass.us/agora-fam-headshots

 

View More: https://kwhphotographs.pass.us/agora-fam-headshots

Zarah

Senior Barista, Baker

Favorite Agora drink right now: Salted Honey Bear Latte

Fun Fact: Zarah has sung at the Royal Opera House in Muscat, Oman

Been with Agora since: January, 2020


 

Madison

Baker

Favorite Agora drink right now: Chili Pepper Mocha

Fun Fact: 

Been with Agora since: February, 2020

View More: https://kwhphotographs.pass.us/agora-fam-headshots

 

Agora Headshots

Jovi

Senior Barista

Favorite Agora drink right now: Iced London Fog

Fun Fact: Jovi's first tattoo was a little coffee cup that she got while in Greece

Been with Agora since: June, 2021


 

Cora

Office Assistant

Favorite Agora drink right now: Pumpkin Cinnamon Spice Latte

Fun Fact: Cora loves any and everything to do with mermaids

Been with Agora since: July, 2021

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Bridget

Barista

Favorite Agora drink right now: Honey Bear Latte

Fun Fact: Bridget used to dance ballet

Been with Agora since: September, 2021


 

Sumner

Bookkeeper, Coffee Roaster

Favorite Agora drink right now: Brown Sugar Cinnamon Iced Americano with a long pull

Fun Fact: Some of Sumner's hobbies include knitting and making chainmail

Been with Agora since: November, 2021

View More: https://kwhphotographs.pass.us/agora-fam-headshots

 

Agora Headshots

Emma

Barista

Favorite Agora drink right now:

Fun Fact: 

Been with Agora since: December, 2021


 

Wilson

Barista

Favorite Agora drink right now: Apple Pie Latte

Fun Fact: Wilson has played piano for years, and has performed as a concert pianist

Been with Agora since: October, 2022

Agora Headshots

 

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Kaitlyn

Barista

Favorite Agora drink right now: Strangely Delicious

Fun Fact: 

Been with Agora since: February, 2023


 

Headshots by KWH Photographs (Kacie), a portrait and lifestyle photographer currently based in Fredericksburg, serving the DMV Metro area region to Richmond and beyond. Also a wonderful Agora barista and Manager!

    The coffee at agora is awesome!! I had two of their muffins, and I was in heaven! Go check this place out if you haven't already done so.

    David Humphrey Avatar David Humphrey
    July 28, 2015

    MJ and Andi are wonderfully sweet! They are very inviting and attentive when entering their coffee house. My drink is always spot on and the different food items we've tried have had great flavor! I appreciate their personal touches from recognizing me and calling me by name to their home made wooden signs. Great addition to that side of Caroline Street! Keep it up girls .. see you soon! Holly

    Holly Zajac Lamph Avatar Holly Zajac Lamph
    June 16, 2015

    Agora is the best coffee shop in DT Fredericksburg!!! Friendly service, comfy seating areas, and best of all, very allergy-friendly. I have a dairy allergy, and they're the only coffee shop in town that doesn't charge me extra for my soy milk!

    Kaitlyn Mae Thompson Avatar Kaitlyn Mae Thompson
    August 6, 2017

    First time here today and absolutely loved it! Great atmosphere and different areas to hang out inside and outside of the shop. All of the employees were genuinely nice people and were very kind in hosting the Spotylvania Animal Shelter adoption event. Thanks for a wonderful day! We and the pups had a great time.

    Stephanie DeBord Avatar Stephanie DeBord
    April 9, 2017

    Agora was my go-to place when I lived in Fredericksburg. They have the best coffee and chai, not to mention the friendly atmosphere. You feel like you're sitting at home with old friends when you go in there. It quickly became my favorite coffee shop.

    Tina Wallace Avatar Tina Wallace
    January 7, 2017

    I have officially sworn off starbucks since visiting agora. The service was top notch. The staff is very knowledgeable and as friendly as they come. I highly recommend them and look forward to visiting again very soon!

    Abigail Leigh Avatar Abigail Leigh
    September 12, 2017