From Kickstarter to Coffee Shop, Couple Opens Monarch Espresso Bar in Tuscaloosa

The age of social media and the way we share information is unmatched. Website's like GoFundMe and Kickstarter, allow people who have dreams, but need funds - to accomplish them.

Paul and Audrey Vermilyea met at the University of Alabama. They then got married and moved to Nashville. They decided to come back to Tuscaloosa to open a coffee shop that is reminiscent of the shops in Nashville.

They created a Kickstarter account and raised over $52,000 to help open their shop. The neat thing about Kickstarter is that when you donate money to a cause you get something back. If you donate $10 or more you get a free coffee. On the other hand, if you donate $500 or more you get a specialty drink named after you and you become apart of the coffee club.

The Vermilyea's describe their coffee shop as a ' community-powered craft coffee shop in the heart of Tuscaloosa.'

You can visit the Monarch Espresso Bar at 714 22nd Ave.