A new coffee shop opened Monday at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport.

Red Eye Express Coffee, owned and operated by Tim Smaha, Adam Heirs, Lisa Matthews and Stan Matthews, will be open Monday through Friday beginning at 4:30 a.m. and on Saturday and Sunday beginning at 5 a.m., according to a CMA news release.

“We’re excited to have Red Eye Express Coffee join the CAE family of vendors and know their unique beverage options will be a hit with travelers in need of a pick me up,” airport executive director Mike Gula said in the release.

It opened as a part of the airport’s Community Opportunity Leasing Agreement program.
The COLA program is a short-term, low-risk opportunity available to local small businesses and independent merchants, according to the CMA website. Participants lease kiosks in the airport terminal on a six- or 12-month renewable basis and pay the airport a monthly base rent of $400 or $815, or 12 percent of gross sales, whichever is greater.

Leasing Agreement Program Link

Red Eye Express will serve products from Columbia-based Loveland Coffee and Charleston Tea Plantation along with pastries from Crust Bakery, of Rosewood. The shop also plans to donate coffee grounds and compostable products to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden and will feature drinks created by head barista, Amanda Eduy.