by JACKSON LEVER
Intern News Reporter

Bald Guy Brew and Koncepts Hookah Lounge are hosting a promotional event Thursday to expose students to the local coffee brewing company and Boone’s first hookah lounge.

The event will be held on Duck Pond Field Thursday, and will also recruit members for “Hookah Haven,” a club in its beginning stages at Appalachian State University.

Bald Guy Brew was founded by owner Don “Bald Guy” Cox, and has its international headquarters in Boone, off the N.C. Highway 105 Bypass.

The Fair Trade Coffee Company, which began in 2007, roasts and brews coffee from Central and South America, Africa and Indonesia.

The company distributes locally to coffee companies and online customers across the country.

BeansTalk, Boone Bagelry and Grateful Grounds are all local carriers of Bald Guy Brew.

“We aren’t necessarily a coffee shop like Starbucks, but you can come by our headquarters on [N.C. Highway] 105 and get a cup,” Cox said. “Mostly we sell our brew to local stores and around the country, either retail or wholesale.”

Although Bald Guy Brew sells to major outlets in San Francisco and New York, they still find the time to promote a cause.

Ninety percent of the company’s imports are organic, and they are very concerned with the growers.

According to the Global Exchange, coffee is only second to oil as the United States’ most valuable commodity.

Coffee is also the top food import.

“We choose to empower coffee-growing communities around the world by buying from them at a rate that is higher than fair trade,” Cox said. “We buy it organic right from the farm.”

Jason K. Mills, senior advertising major is working on behalf of Bald Guy Brew.

He teamed up with the local coffee brewer through a public relations class.

“Basically this event is to promote Bald Guy Brew, Koncepts, and to recruit anyone interested in helping form the hookah club here on campus,” Mills said.

The open event is free and will start at sundown.

Attendees are more than encouraged to bring their own hookah.

“The event has nothing to do with the university; it’s just to see how many people are interested here on campus and to promote around Boone,” Mills said.

Cox said his goal for Bald Guy Brew is to remain in Boone and continue to distribute not only quality coffee, but fair coffee.

“My vision is to cut out as much of the middle man as possible. Right now about eight different people are handling the product, we want to cut that down to three or so,” Cox said. “My ultimate goal is to become directly linked with the growing community.”

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