Tucked away in downtown Duluth, where cobblestone streets whisper history and modern-day buzz mingles with the past, a new coffee shop is quietly making its mark. Alchemist on the Divide, a passion project by co-founders Eric Oh and Michael Park, is bringing a dose of warmth, history, and serious coffee craft to the neighborhood.
Oh, the mastermind behind the successful Alchemist Trading Co. in Johns Creek, and Park, a local resident with a vision for community-driven spaces, saw potential in this historic location—once a railroad stop, a prison, even a city jail. Now, it's a place where espresso machines hum, conversations flow, and the scent of freshly ground beans lingers in the air.
“We wanted a space that felt like a second home,” Park says. “Cozy, family-friendly, but also something a little moody, a little magical.”
That magic is evident in the details. The shop’s original stone walls and foundations remain intact, lending a sense of permanence, while dim lighting and deep, inky hues wrap guests in an intimate, almost mysterious embrace. The aesthetic? Somewhere between old-world charm and modern alchemy.
The coffee program is just as thoughtful. “We source our beans from Ethiopia, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and Panama—exclusively specialty Arabica,” Oh explains, emphasizing a commitment to quality over quantity. Forget overly sweetened concoctions drowning in chocolate syrup—Alchemist takes a different approach, crafting lattes, cappuccinos, and espressos with house-made syrups designed to highlight, rather than mask, the coffee’s natural flavors.
Currently in its soft launch phase, the shop operates from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but plans to expand to 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.—a rare late-night coffee option for those who crave a well-pulled shot of espresso long after the dinner plates have been cleared.
Beyond caffeine, there’s a larger mission at play. “We want this to be a community hub,” Park says. “A place where people connect over coffee, learn about the building’s history, and discover emerging local artists and musicians.”
Consider the buzz officially brewing.
Alchemist on the Divide
📍 3550 West Lawrenceville Street, Suite 220, Duluth, GA 30096
(Just below Maple Street Biscuit)
9:00 am-3:30 pm
Watch GAT Conversation with Eric Oh and Michael Park: https://youtu.be/EptCy3QRoLI
