Mike and Kayla Tompkins first made a name for themselves on YouTube, sharing glimpses into their creative life and travelogues from their family’s cross-country adventures in a van. Their latest chapter takes a more grounded turn with the opening of Begin Coffee—a charming coffee shop and bakery in their new hometown of Westerville, Ohio.
Begin Coffee is a deeply personal project that reflects their aesthetic, values, and hands-on approach to everything they do. From custom fixtures to carefully curated drinkware (that’s where we come in!), every detail was thoughtfully chosen to create a space that feels inviting, expressive, and entirely their own.
We caught up with Mike to talk about the journey from content creation to café ownership, the challenges of building a space and local community, and why they chose notNeutral to help bring their vision to life.
nN: Opening a café is a big shift from the nomadic lifestyle your family led for so many years. What inspired you to put down roots and create a community space?
MT: We’ve always been drawn to the idea of creating spaces where people feel at home. After years of travel and storytelling online, we found ourselves craving something more grounded— a place where connection could happen face to face. Opening Begin was our way of planting roots and building something meaningful in our own community.
nN: Where did you start when designing the space? Were there any non-negotiables when it came to the layout, menu, or overall customer experience at Begin Coffee?
MT: When we began designing the space, we centered on a few guiding words: warmth, intention, and joy. We wanted Begin to feel like an extension of our own kitchen table—a place that feels personal and welcoming. Every detail was chosen with care and purpose. Our hope is that from the moment someone walks through the door to the moment their food or drink arrives, they feel seen. We believe that kind of care shows up on every plate and in every cup.
nN: Building out a café from scratch is no small feat! What were some of the biggest challenges you ran into during the process?
MT: One of the biggest challenges was working within the limitations of the space—figuring out how to make it feel open and welcoming while still maximizing seating. We spent a lot of time thinking through flow: how guests would move through the café, how plates and drinks would be served, and how to create table spaces that felt intentional and not cramped. It was a puzzle, but one we cared deeply about solving.
We care a lot about the little details, and we love that our glassware helps tell that story.
nN: You chose notNeutral glassware for your café. What drew you to our pieces, and how do they support the kind of experience you're crafting at Begin?
MT: Our branding walks the line between beautiful and playful, and we were drawn to notNeutral because their pieces strike that same balance. The Vero glasses are stunning—they catch the light in such a lovely way and feel distinct without being flashy. The Lino mugs, especially in sage, felt like they were made for our space—the color ties in perfectly, and the shape has this thoughtful thumb rest that just feels good in your hand. We care a lot about the little details, and we love that our glassware helps tell that story.
nN: You’ve spent years building a dedicated online community of subscribers and fans. How did that experience prepare you—or maybe not! — for building a community in real life?
MT: Our online community has been a huge part of our journey—from cheering us on during cross-country adventures to encouraging us as we dreamed up something new. In many ways, Begin exists because of the support and belief of that community. That said, building connection in person has been a different kind of beautiful. It’s slower, more tangible. We’re learning how to foster that same sense of belonging in a physical space, and it’s deeply meaningful to watch it come to life—one guest, one conversation, one coffee at a time.
Photos courtesy of Tyler Jamison for Begin Coffee.