Coffee shop owner Valerie Holland was making plans to open her own business long before she graduated college.

Holland, 25, a graduate of Lee University in Tennessee, began six months ago making plans for her River House Coffee, which opened Thursday adjacent to Food Lion at Weeksville Crossing.

"It's been a dream that I've had for a long time," said Holland, who serves as the shop's general manager. "There's nothing really on this end of town."

She graduated in December, the same time she decided to lease a space at Weeksville Crossing. To help make her dream come true, Holland partnered with area businessmen Matt Harrell and Bryant Sawyer to open the shop, which takes its name from Elizabeth City's location on the Pasquotank River.

"It's a great city," she said. "There's nowhere else I'd want to open."

Originally from Virginia Beach, Va., Holland was familiar with Elizabeth City and decided that after she graduated she would like to provide a safe, cool place for students, particularly at nearby Elizabeth City State University, to spend time together. ECSU's proximity to Weeksville Crossing was a leading factor in her decision to locate at the new plaza, she said.

"Having a college across the street had a big role in the decision," Holland said.

Holland is a youth leader at a church in town and noticed that students could use a place to hang out after football games and other events. The store has muted lighting, small tables, a couch and a counter top with bar stools in the back, as well as free wireless Internet access.

She said the Internet access was another service she wanted to provide to students and other customers, who she hopes includes U.S. Coast Guard personnel stationed a short drive away at the base.

The store's eight employees include two college students and two high school students.

Last fall, Holland went to the Seattle Coffee Fest to take barista training.

Aside from coffees, tea, espresso and frozen drinks, River House offers bottled juices and soft drinks and baked desserts and bagels. Holland is talking with area shops to try to sell locally made foods, and already is carrying some chocolate covered pretzels and Twinkies from The Chocolate House, owned by her aunt, Kathy Dowdy.

River House Coffee is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It is closed Sundays. The store is located at 1805A Weeksville Road and can be reached at 338-0333.