The scent of freshly brewed coffee fills the air while voices from the NFL Network play on the televisions in the background. Sports memorabilia and artwork cover every wall. It’s a sports lover’s haven. This is , downtown Kent’s new sports coffee shop and streetwear brand.
Kent State University alumna, Cassy Kopp, '16, co-founded State Champs with friend Ally Eclarin after meeting through social media and bonding over their love for Saturday Night Live and women’s sports.
Kopp graduated from Kent State in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in political science and a minor in psychology. After graduating, Kopp worked in brick-and-mortar retail stores for years. She wondered if it could serve as a steppingstone to getting into politics. But after seven-plus years of management, the desire to own and operate her own shop took hold.
Eclarin, a California native, studied graphic design at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, working at various startups, eventually moving to Ohio.
The idea of creating a sports coffee shop stemmed from an idea Eclarin developed while working part-time as a barista during college.
“She always had this idea for a coffee shop,” Kopp shared with Kent State Today, “and we kind of talked about blending sports and coffee together and then State Champs was born.”
Kopp said she applies her political science background from Kent State to the business side of the shop.
“It’s knowing how to position yourself in front of community members but also business owners and leaders in the sports community,” Kopp said.
State Champs is not only a coffee shop, but also a streetwear brand. The co-founders said they wanted to create a streetwear brand that was different from how big companies typically approach merchandise.
