Angela Bonenfant Sinnott
Family Pizza Truck
The Backstory
Silk City Coffee in Manchester is more than just a coffee shop — it’s the result of an extraordinary story rooted in mentorship, shared purpose, and community. Co-Owned by two couples, Tammy and Glenn, and Sarah and Rob, the journey began when Tammy, a high school guidance counselor and leadership advisor, watched Sarah and Rob grow as standout student leaders. Years later, after they’d graduated, married, and moved away, Tammy felt a calling to create a space where people could gather, connect, and serve one another. Unsure how to bring the vision to life, she prayed for the right partners — and over coffee one day, everything fell into place. Sarah and Rob had just moved back to Manchester and, while unpacking, rediscovered their high school journals. Both had unknowingly written the same dream: to one day open a coffee shop in Manchester — and marry each other. With renewed purpose, Rob and Sarah trained in Portland, Oregon, and upon returning, Tammy and Glenn joined to open Silk City Coffee in 2016. With Love Coffee, Love People as their guiding motto, the shop quickly became a cherished local hub.
How Women's Business Development Council Helped
In 2021, thanks to the Ignite Grant, they launched their own roastery, expanding into wholesale and national distribution. In February 2025, Silk City reached global acclaim, named one of the World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops at Coffee Fest in Madrid, Spain — one of only 14 shops in the U.S. to receive the honor. Later, they were awarded a WBDC Accelerate Grant, which they used to purchase an espresso machine for a new location in Willimantic. “Espresso-based drinks are our highest-margin products, delivering a 70% profit margin and driving significant revenue,” says Sarah. “The commercial-grade espresso machine we purchased with the Accelerate Grant directly boosts speed, throughput, and customer satisfaction. With improved workflow, reduced downtime, and optimal labor efficiency, we expect this equipment to generate an additional $45k in incremental year-one revenue and over $160k in additional revenue across the first three years.”
From student journals to global recognition, Silk City Coffee shows what can happen when women entrepreneurs are given the confidence, community, and capital they need to succeed.
From student journals to global recognition, Silk City Coffee shows what can happen when women entrepreneurs are given the confidence, community, and capital they need to succeed.
Website
Location
763 Main St, Manchester, CT 06040
Contact Phone
860-432-1805