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Weird Brothers Coffee is expanding to Vienna with its first franchised location, bringing the Herndon-based roaster’s playful drinks and neighborhood coffeehouse atmosphere to Windover Square.
Construction is underway at 106 Lawyers Road in the former home of 29th Parallel Coffee, which continues to operate in Fairfax Station. Owner Paul Olsen said the new shop is expected to open this summer, although a firm date has not been set.
“We are getting close,” Olsen said. “We have been working hard to train our Franchisee and ensure they are prepared to open at full capacity.”
The expansion comes after Northern Virginia Magazine readers named Weird Brothers the region’s best coffeehouse.
From a mobile coffee bar to multiple locations
Olsen, an Army veteran who has lived in the Washington region since returning from Iraq in 2004, founded Weird Brothers with his brother, Kenny, in 2015. The business began as a small, self-financed coffee truck traveling around the area.
The California natives grew up viewing coffee as a centerpiece of social gatherings, from kitchen conversations with relatives to meetings with friends at neighborhood cafés. After retiring from the military in 2009, Paul Olsen sought to recreate that welcoming culture in Northern Virginia.
The brothers eventually moved beyond the mobile operation, opening their first permanent roastery and coffeehouse in May 2017 at 321 Sunset Park Drive in Herndon’s Sunset Business Park. The location remains open today.
Their milestone was followed by tragedy when Kenny Olsen died unexpectedly from a drug overdose in August 2017. Community members raised more than $2,000 for the family while Paul stepped away from the business to grieve.
Paul has continued pursuing the brothers’ shared goal of operating an inclusive coffeehouse that pairs quality products with a sense of fun. Weird Brothers supports community organizations, schools and businesses, including the Chris Atwood Foundation.
“We will always take our coffee seriously but never take ourselves too seriously,” Olsen said.
That approach extends to a menu featuring coffee, tea, paninis, pastries and breakfast dishes. A separate “mischief” menu offers seasonal creations and dessert drinks with fantasy-inspired names such as Elven Blade and Wookie’s Kiss.
“We never stop creating and looking to offer new and exciting things for our customers,” Olsen said. “Even though we roast some seriously good coffees, we will never judge anyone for how they may want to drink it.”
Vienna launches the franchise push
Since opening its original Herndon shop, Weird Brothers has added another location at Worldgate Centre and expanded into Leesburg. The Vienna store will be the company’s first franchise.
The business began looking earlier this year for franchise operators in Virginia and Maryland as part of a broader effort to grow throughout the D.C., Maryland and Virginia region.
“Our first Franchisees were drawn to the vibrant culture of Vienna,” Olsen said. “When they found the space was available, they could not pass up the opportunity.”
At roughly 1,600 square feet, the Vienna café will have seating for approximately 30 to 40 customers. It will offer the complete food and drink selection available at the Worldgate and Leesburg shops.
The franchise is hiring baristas and shift leads. Olsen said it is seeking qualified applicants who care deeply about coffee and customer service while embracing the company’s lighthearted personality.
Although the Vienna café will use the brand’s familiar colors and themes, Olsen said the franchisees will have room to give the store a character of its own.