VALDOSTA — Ellianos, a long-standing coffee shop in town, disappeared over night last week and two Red Owls appeared in place of the Northside and Bemiss stores.

The previous franchisees of the two Ellianos and the current owners of Red Owl — Jon Chancy, Justin Chancy and Will Paulo — explained why the change was made overnight, what Red Owl is and why the change was made.

The change was done so quickly because there had to be a “hard disconnect,” Paulo said.

Because Ellianos is a franchise, Ellianos could not sell or advertise Red Owl products, and Red Owl cannot sell Ellianos products, Paulo said. So, in order for customers to continue to have their morning coffee, the Chancys and Paulo made the changes last Thursday night after closing.

For the Chancys, who have been with Ellianos in Valdosta for 13 years, Red Owl is about making quality coffee and preserving the art of making coffee.

“We want to be able to provide a great cup of coffee in a drive-thru without sacrificing quality,” Jon Chancy said.

To preserve the art of making coffee, Red Owl has essentially “taken a step backwards” and now uses less machinery to make the coffee and uses more of a “touch-and-feel method,” he said.

Everything is done by hand, except for grinding the coffee beans, Jon Chancy said. Employees also test the drinks they make to ensure quality is upheld.

Along with the change in name, Red Owl is moving away from dairy and sugar-infused drinks, Jon Chancy said.

“Our goal is to find stuff that complements the coffee,” he said.

The name change is also a change in vision for the stores.

“With this new change we are able to plant ourselves in the community,” Paulo said.

Without the corporate structure behind Ellianos, there won’t be “red tape for fundraisers and other events,” he said. It gives the company and the employees the “freedom to be able to create, and the freedom to be able to help.”

While the signature drinks may be gone, Red Owl employees will be able to make his or her own drink for the day called Barista’s Choice.

The drink for the day allows the employees to create and sell their favorite coffee and share it with the customers, Jon Chancy said. He likened it to a chef’s plate of the day in restaurants.

And while some things have changed, he said he wants residents to know some things will stay the same.

“It is the same people that has been serving you for 13 years,” he said. “We just want to love the community more than we could.”

Red Owl is located at 108 E. Northside Drive and 929 Macey Drive. 

The Ellianos on Baytree Road is still operating as an Ellianos.

Jason Smith is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1256.