Courtesy Ann Donnelly
By Ann Donnelly
After years of honing his craft, from a cheap home espresso machine to commercial roasting, Ryan McNaughton has realized his goal of opening a dedicated brick-and-mortar coffee shop: Stinky’s Coffee Co. The shop is the anchor tenant in the newly developed Moreau Commons commercial hub at 1377 Route 9. McNaughton hopes to transform the highly visible former Suzuki dealership, which sat vacant for roughly 10 years, into a central community gathering spot.
The Moreau Commons project, which aims to bring more local development to the area, is led by local entrepreneurs Brian McKenzie and Ben Alden. Stinky’s was reportedly the first business to sign on. McNaughton cited the location’s traffic and accessibility as key factors in his decision. “It’s perfect. It’s got parking. It’s got access to a traffic light,” McNaughton said, noting the constant flow of traffic heading to and from the Northway Exit 17 and Saratoga.
A 2005 graduate of South Glens Falls, McNaughton initially took an interest in coffee after becoming fascinated by lattes. “I started drinking lattes, and I was like, ‘Well, I want to make my own lattes,’” McNaughton recalled. This pursuit led him to upgrade his equipment and eventually question the beans’ origins, prompting him to learn about the roasting process. McNaughton bought his first roaster in 2021, and the company began by selling fresh-roasted coffee at farmers’ markets and venues like SPAC, always with the goal of creating a permanent coffee shop.
The distinctive name, Stinky’s, originated from a nickname McNaughton acquired after wearing a T-shirt that read “Stinky’s”. “I did it as a joke just to test it out,” he explained. “I went to a couple conferences and people really gravitated to the name. So, I was like, ‘Well, I guess I’ve got to own it. I’m stinky now,’”.
While Stinky’s offers a full range of espresso-based drinks, lattes, and cold brew, the quality of the coffee remains paramount. McNaughton handles all the roasting—which is done two minutes down the road from the shop—and will offer high-end pour-overs, including a Colombian geisha coffee. Seasonal offerings included maple, eggnog, and gingerbread lattes. He sources many of his beans from a farm in Guatemala and plans to visit within the next couple of years.
Beyond the beverages, the shop has focused heavily on creating a food menu, crafted by manager Jack Hart. The menu features four breakfast sandwiches and four lunch sandwiches. The business emphasizes local sourcing, using Battenkill Milk and Thomas’ Eggs. The team also includes baker Kevin Haux, formerly of Haux’s Nest Bakery, who joined to create homemade bagels, bread, and other baked goods. All sandwiches can be served on gluten-free bread sourced from Katie Bakes in Glens Falls.
McNaughton stressed that the shop is designed to be more than just a quick stop; it is intended to foster community. “I really want people to be able to come into the space and be able to call it their own,” McNaughton said. “If you need to come in, you want to come in and post up for the day and do your work, do your homework, take meetings, read a book. That’s the kind of atmosphere that we’re trying to promote here”. The shop features a cozy loft area with a sofa, chairs, a coffee table, and charging plugs, complemented by murals painted by local artist Hannah Williams.
Stinky’s Coffee Co. is open seven days a week with winter hours from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The kitchen closes at 2 p.m. For more information, visit stinkyscoffee.com.