This is the third article in the series profiling the 2007 Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce Annual Award winners.
When the three Brindley brothers came down to Virginia from New Jersey, they did not know much about running a business, but they knew a lot about music. Without doing much risk calculating, they bought a coffee shop in Vienna and turned it into a concert venue.
"Thankfully we were a little young and naïve," said Daniel Brindley, 28, one of the owners of Jammin’ Java. The three brothers — Daniel, Jonathan, 29, and Luke, 32 — bought Jammin’ Java five-and-a-half years ago. Daniel Brindley was only 22 years old. "It has been a trial and error thing," he said about the business. "I was 22 years old at the time, and didn’t even realize I could book shows," he said. Daniel Brindley added that if the brothers had considered the risk in greater detail they may have given up on the idea of buying Jammin’ Java.
Thanks to their musical background — all three brothers are musicians and two of them have music degrees from Rutgers University — the Brindleys had a vision of turning their coffee shop into a concert venue. Musical acts are on stage seven nights per week, and vary from local startup bands to nationally acclaimed musicians. "Not only do we do the local thing, music lessons and local garage bands, but we’re also a destination," said Daniel Brindley. Some of the artists who perform at Jammin’ Java draw thousands of people to Vienna, setting in motion a chain reaction that brings business to other Vienna establishments, he said. Aside from the nightly live music, Jammin’ Java also offers music events for children and music lessons four days per week.
VIENNA TYSONS Regional Chamber of Commerce (VTRCC) recognized Jammin’ Java as the recipient of its 2007 Business of the Year Award. Chamber President Diane Poldy said Jammin’ Java is beneficial to the Vienna area in many ways. From nationally known bands and artists performing in the community, to a safe place to nurture the artistic talents of children and teens, to the economic benefits of the concerts they host, Poldy said Jammin’ Java has a great impact on the Vienna community.
"They just went with it and they did such a top notch job," said Chamber chair Joan Fletcher. "The concerts there are amazing. [The Brindley brothers] have done a tremendous job," she said. Fletcher added that Jammin’ Java is always ready to accommodate other members of the chamber. Many home-based startup businesses use Jammin’ Java as a meeting place and VTRCC has held many of its functions in the establishment. "They have been wonderful to the chamber," said Fletcher.
Daniel Brindley said the business would continue to refine itself, but its basic operations and artist-friendly environment would not change any time soon. He is thrilled that VTRCC chose Jammin’ Java for the Business of the Year Award. "We are a very young business, only five-and-a-half years old," said Daniel Brindley. "The Tysons Corner-Vienna area is a major center and to be in that kind of company and to be recognized is great," he said. Daniel Brindley credits the success of the business to an artist-friendly venue and the experience the customers have there. Jammin’ Java is located at 227 Maple Avenue East in Vienna. For more information visit www.jamminjava.com.