Tallahassee’s Coffee Connect
Jason McArthur talks about the beans and bolts of the coffee industry
In the business world, the coffee shop is the great connector.
On our way to work, we stop by our favorite shop to fuel up for the day. We schedule new client meetings at a cafe that’s the midpoint for both parties. For those who work remotely or own a business, a coffee shop often serves as an office space.
This setting, this place of pause and connection brimming with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee beans, has always appealed to Jason McArthur, owner of Argonaut Coffee in Tallahassee.
While McArthur was pursuing an IT degree at Florida State University, he got a part-time job as a barista at the bustling midtown Tallahassee location of RedEye Coffee. Upon graduation, after spending a year working in the IT sector, he concluded the field wasn’t for him.
As he was going back to school, this time for exercise physiology, McArthur was presented with the opportunity to advance in the coffee industry, becoming assistant manager and then manager of RedEye.
In the years it took to gain his degree, to his surprise, McArthur found that not only did he enjoy managing a coffee shop, but he was also good at it.
“The staff at RedEye, particularly the manager who trained me at the time, the late Helen Michael, taught me how to be a good manager and all the intricacies of running a very busy coffee shop,” says McArthur. “I realized I was able to use my IT-oriented brain to problem solve while also using the part of me that seeks connection with people.”
Although he decided not to go into practice, his journey with physical therapy wasn’t over.
In the median of deciding his life’s path, he recalled a conversation he had a few years earlier with Dr. Aaron Guyer of Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic who expressed his interest in one day opening a coffee kiosk inside of TOC.
McArthur realized he already had a name for his own coffee shop. In another life, where he possessed musical talent, he dreamed of naming a band Jason and the Argonauts. Knowing he made a better businessman than band frontman, he ventured forward with the name based in Greek mythology.
In late 2019, McArthur launched Argonaut Coffee, serving coffee, espresso, tea, and a variety of pastries in partnership with local bakers, inside of TOC’s main clinic.
“I’m a Tallahassee native, and I used to be a competitive cyclist; therefore, I spent a good amount of time at TOC throughout my life,” says McArthur. “It felt like fate or good karma that years later, I am able to make other people’s wait times more enjoyable.”
McArthur began Argonaut at the end of 2019, not knowing what 2020 had in store. He credits the survival of his small business through the pandemic to a few factors: quality staff, his connections as a Tallahassee native, and the fact that people still visited medical offices during the time, and often that cup of joe made their day during bleak times.
On the other side of 2020, Argonaut enjoyed locations in both Midtown and on the campus of Goodwood Museum & Gardens. For various and often unavoidable reasons, neither location worked out, although he credits the Midtown location for bringing the brand substantial community awareness.
In November of 2023, a coveted spot in Cascades Park opened up. A scenic and popular destination for locals and visitors, McArthur is more than content with the influx of business at his second location.
By May of 2024, the shop had garnered enough business to secure a $101,813 grant for improvements from the Downtown Redevelopment Commission. Additions included an interior brick accent wall to align with the aesthetic of downtown and an enhanced outdoor seating area.
The larger space allows McArthur to partner with and promote other local businesses such as Tasty Pastry, Three Sons Bakery, and Tally Kombucha. As a brand, Argonaut is known for roasting Panther Coffee based out of Miami and making their own syrups in-house.
McArthur believes it’s these personal, localized touches that differentiate his coffee.
“It’s really important to me that what we sell in store is Florida made and of the highest quality,” says McArthur. “The importance of quality products and a quality staff is something I learned at RedEye and keep with me today.”
McArthur credits his staff more than himself for Argonaut’s continued success. While he still can be found flexing his barista muscles here and there, he’s largely put the day-to-day operations in the hands of his trusted staff, particularly his general manager, Maggie Amato.
Being able to focus on the big picture of his company, McArthur looks forward to a future of furthered community connection. He envisions a stacked events calendar of trivia nights, wine tastings, and possibly a writing group meet, as an aspiring novelist himself.
“I want people to come into Argonaut and feel at home in this community, that it’s reflective of the spirit of Tallahassee,” explains McArthur. “I once had a customer tell me when he had just moved to town, I made him feel welcome, like an ambassador of Tallahassee. That was probably one of the best compliments I’ve ever received.”
McArthur can often be found suggesting his favorite local restaurants and haunts to any customer willing to listen. When not sipping a chai (an underrated menu favorite) while overseeing the shops, McArthur and his partner can be found on Northwest Florida trails, particularly St. Marks Nature Preserve.
When asked about the future, McArthur smiles with the contentment of being happy with the now. Business is steady, the product is at its best, and the staff is his point of pride.
“What I want for Argonaut more than anything is to keep being a place of connection,” says McArthur. “I love the smell, the ambience, the feeling of a coffee shop, but what really makes that all the better are the people in the shop enjoying that together. It’s always been about the people for me.”
If you find yourself in Argonaut, look to the table next to you. You just might find McArthur working on his sci-fi novel. Don’t feel bad interrupting to ask him what to do this weekend in Tallahassee. He’s happy to help.
