Drip N’ Sip Coffee: This Sister’s Tribute Channels 90s Nostalgia

Melanie King has a lot on her plate. She has been selling real estate for 15 years, and she is a mom to a two-year-old daughter. But the unexpected death of her brother Aaron–a man who had always been the life of the party and who made friends everywhere he went–lit a spark in Melanie to try something new. She wanted to create a space that honored Aaron, a place that brought people together. That space is Drip N’ Sip Coffee and Tea in Hampton, VA. 

Drip N’ Sip: A Totally Rad 90s-Themed Coffee Shop

First, let us set the scene. Drip N’ Sip looks like it could be pulled right out of an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air or Saved by the Bell. The walls are covered in neon murals of nineties nostalgia: Bart Simpson, cassette tapes, MTV, and Blockbuster. There’s an orange FRIENDS couch and a corner with an old TV and VCR playing VHS tapes. The TV stand is covered with Beanie Babies. 

“My brother loved everything about the nineties,” Melanie shared, as her inspiration for Drip N’ Sip’s theme. “He actually would have loved for this to have been a bar, but a coffee shop was the meeting point in the middle, since I have a two-year-old,” she laughed.

Melanie and her brother loved creating spaces, planning parties, and taking trips. Everywhere they went, her brother had a way of connecting with people from all walks of life. Now, Drip N’ Sip does the same thing. 

“If you look inside right now,” Melanie describes, “there are two ladies at the community table having a meeting, a couple on a first date, two friends who haven’t seen each other in a while. It really is a place for people to come together.”

Melanie’s Path to Opening a Coffee Shop

When Melanie King commits to an idea, she commits fully. That mindset is exactly what turned her vision for Drip N’ Sip into one of the most talked-about new coffee shops in her community. However, the idea of owning a coffee shop didn’t come to Melanie all at once. 

A lot of converging events happened in Melanie’s life to lead to her sign up for Texas Coffee School’s 3-Day Coffee Business Master Class®, which she attended in August 2024. Some were major events, like losing Aaron. Others were gradual changes, like adjusting to motherhood, or having the real estate market change after COVID. Still more were tiny observations, like the joy she got from making coffee drinks at home each morning. However, once she spent three days in our classroom, Melanie knew she was all-in. 

“Without Texas Coffee School, this probably would have stayed a ‘cool idea,’” she shared. “Texas Coffee School gave me the confidence and the knowledge to actually do it.”

After leaving our class, Melanie had identified a great location just minutes from her home and childhood neighborhood. The space sat in a busy, established shopping center that locals had long felt was missing one thing: a coffee shop. Using the tools she learned at Texas Coffee School, she evaluated traffic flow, visibility, and community demand before moving forward.

Thanks to her real estate and leadership experience, hiring came naturally. Melanie built a simple application process, conducted focused interviews, and selected baristas and a manager she trusted to represent both her and the brand. What could have been a stressful step became a smooth one.

Just over a year after attending our class, Melanie opened Drip N’ Sip–a tribute to her brother. And she did it all while juggling parenthood and real estate. 

This Coffee Shop is Da’ Bomb

We touched base with Melanie during Drip N’ Sip’s soft opening, just weeks before the grand opening. Already, the shop was generating buzz and rave reviews. One such review came from influencer stormybluee, who told her 160,000 TikTok and Instagram followers, dubbed Storm Chasers, that “her mouth was on the floor” when she walked into Drip N’ Sip. “I’m genuinely obsessed with this place.” 

Google reviews echo this sentiment with five-star ratings and comments like: 

• “This is perhaps the coolest coffee shop I’ve ever visited. I was smiling the entire time I was there absorbing the immaculate 90s vibes.”
• “Drip and Sip is an absolute slam dunk, home run, hole in one; I mean they have completely knocked it out of the park!! This is EXACTLY what Hampton needed. The attention to detail to the 90’s theming is like no other… I fall more in love with this place every time I visit.”
• “Awesome location and the interior is beautiful, vibrant and open. We got the You Go Girl latte, Dabomb (both frozen), and the grilled cheese with ham and everything was delicious.”

Love Leads the Way

How do we put our finger on Melanie’s key to success? So many factors made Melanie an unstoppable force in her journey to opening. 

• Drive: Melanie fully commits. It is clear that she’s not easily sidetracked or discouraged. She kept her eye on the prize and drove right toward opening–no excuses, no distractions. 
• Education: Not wanting to move ahead blindly, Melanie came to Texas Coffee School to get the education and tools she needed in order to be successful. 
• Clarity: Once Melanie established a clear 90s concept, she let it focus her decision-making. And her attention to detail is what customers love about Drip N’ Sip. 
• Delegation: With a job in real estate and a toddler at home, Melanie hired the team she knew could help her reach her vision. 

While all of these factors contribute to Melanie’s success as an entrepreneur, there is another true thread that echoes through her interview and the murals on Drip N’ Sip’s walls: her brother. Melanie poured her heart into creating a space that felt inclusive, open, and friendly–just like Aaron. And now, each day in Drip N’ Sip is a nostalgic reminder of the era they shared and adored. 

Take the class that launched Melanie’s journey. Enroll in our 3-Day Coffee Business Master Class® today.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long did it take Melanie to open Drip N’ Sip after attending Texas Coffee School?

Melanie opened Drip N’ Sip just over a year after attending Texas Coffee School. The education she received helped her move confidently from idea to execution instead of leaving the concept on hold.

How did Texas Coffee School help Melanie prepare to open her coffee shop?

Texas Coffee School provided Melanie with a complete understanding of the coffee business, including coffee fundamentals, location evaluation, traffic analysis, and what to consider before signing a lease. That foundation gave her clarity and confidence throughout the planning and build-out process.

How did Melanie choose the location for Drip N’ Sip?

Melanie selected a location close to her home in an established shopping center that had strong foot traffic but no existing coffee shop. She evaluated visibility, traffic flow, and community demand before committing to the space.

What makes Drip N’ Sip different from other coffee shops?

Drip N’ Sip stands out for its immersive 90s-inspired theme, nostalgic decor, creative drink names, and strong sense of community. Customers regularly describe the space as welcoming, fun, and emotionally uplifting.

Is Texas Coffee School a good fit for aspiring coffee entrepreneurs?

Texas Coffee School is designed for aspiring coffee entrepreneurs who want practical education, real-world insight, and a clear path from idea to opening. Melanie credits the school as the starting point that made her journey possible.