Longtime barista Katie Nelms wanted to see a new kind of coffee shop in downtown Cullman, so she went and opened it herself.

Nelms, who cut her teeth brewing lattes and baking treats at Berkeley Bob’s Coffee House in recent years, is now the owner of Karma’s Coffee House — located in the Warehouse District, just a few blocks away from her old haunt.

The shop has been slowly building its menu and clientele following a soft opening in late July, and now Nelms is ready to “officially” open up for the masses.

“It’s going really well, especially considering I had no idea what to expect,” she laughed. “What I love about my job is seeing everyone who comes in here, the community. Where else would I go to see these people? We’re just trying to give people a place to gather and meet with their friends.”

In the few months since opening, Nelms said the shop has become a popular stop for everything from morning Bible studies to acoustic jam sessions. The coffee shop’s “kid section,” with a chalkboard table at its center, has also proven to  be a hit with young mothers.

Nelms said her main goal was to build a comfortable environment, and it shows. She said most of the furniture and decor were donated by her friends and family, from the deer head on the wall, to the vintage record player at the center of the shop.

“We were just going for a vintage-inspired, very laid back and comfortable environment,” she said.

Nelms and her team of baristas have also spent the past few months working to hone the drink and food menu, which has grown to include several specialty drinks and expanded lunch offerings. Popular local drinks, concocted by the staff, include the Kurt Cobean, Samoa Cookie Frappe, and Yin and Yang mochas. Karma’s is also making an effort to use unique, local products — including organic milk from Alabama in all the lattes — to showcase the regional flair.

The lunch menu began with three different types of chicken salad, and has now grown to include flat bread meals (which are “basically mini-pizzas,” according to Nelms). All of which complements the wide selection of pastries that are baked in-house.

Karma’s is also building a burgeoning schedule of live music acts, with a female songwriter showcase booked for Nov.13. Karma’s stays open late on Friday nights for live music, and Nelms is looking to book additional acts for extended hours on Thursday nights. The shop also tries to host musicians on Saturday afternoons.

With potential competition in every direction — from Starbucks, Berkeley Bob’s and Joe Muggs — Nelms said she’s trying to attract a different niche of customer, a goal that has been helped along by her location in the heart of one of the city’s trendiest shopping districts. She’s even started trading coupons with nearby stores, which has led to several new customers taking a chance on a discounted iced coffee or cappuccino.

“We get a lot of customers who might not, typically, go to a coffee shop,” she said. “I mean, I don’t see a lot of the same customers I saw at Bob’s. We’re trying to hit a whole, different market.”

‰ Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at tmoore@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 134.