Brothers Grow Opus Coffee From Hospital Kiosk to $5M Chain

Tim and Bret Larson leveraged their experience running a hospital coffee shop to build a quirky, fast-growing coffee business in Gainesville, Florida.

Mar. 26, 2026 at 10:19pm

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Tim and Bret Larson started Opus Coffee in 2009 after working at a coffee kiosk in a South Miami hospital. The brothers rented their first location at a University of Florida health facility in Gainesville, Florida, and have since grown Opus Coffee to 10 locations, a catering service, and an online store. The profitable business brings in around $5 million in annual revenue and has 110 employees. Opus Coffee has built a loyal following for its small-batch, locally roasted coffee and craft coffee drinks.

Why it matters

Opus Coffee's success highlights the growth of independent coffee shops, which are expanding faster than major chains like Starbucks. The brothers' strategy of starting in hospital locations and building strong community ties has allowed them to thrive in a competitive market dominated by large coffee retailers.

The details

Tim and Bret Larson started Opus Coffee in 2009 after working at a coffee kiosk in a South Miami hospital during high school and college. They rented their first location at a University of Florida health facility in Gainesville, Florida, with Bret working mornings and Tim working afternoons. The brothers saved all their money from tips to continue growing the business. Today, Opus Coffee has 10 locations in Gainesville, a catering service, and an online store. The business brings in around $5 million in annual revenue and has 110 employees, with about 60% part-time. The University of Florida campus provides a steady stream of customers to the locations outside of hospitals.

  • Opus Coffee was founded in 2009.
  • The brothers opened their first location at a University of Florida health facility that year.

The players

Tim Larson

One of the co-founders of Opus Coffee, who previously worked at a coffee kiosk in a South Miami hospital.

Bret Larson

One of the co-founders of Opus Coffee, who previously worked at a coffee kiosk in a South Miami hospital.

Katie Larson

Tim Larson's wife, who joined Opus Coffee as the chief operating officer in 2021.

University of Florida (UF) Health

The former community hospital facility in Gainesville, Florida that gave Opus Coffee its first location.

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What they’re saying

“We decided that we were just going to walk into these people's offices and introduce ourselves and drop off the proposal book, because no one wanted to meet with us.”

— Tim Larson, Co-founder

“Not taking a day off. You have to open.”

— Bret Larson, Co-founder

“The competition keeps us on our toes, and it forces us to continue to try to adapt and pay attention to what's going on, so we can't just get stagnant.”

— Katie Larson, Chief Operating Officer

What’s next

Opus Coffee plans to continue expanding its presence in the Gainesville area, leveraging its strong community ties and focus on quality coffee to compete with larger chains.

The takeaway

Opus Coffee's success demonstrates how a small, community-focused coffee business can thrive in a market dominated by major chains. The brothers' strategy of starting in hospital locations and building strong relationships with suppliers and the local community has been key to their growth.