Building Family Legacy, Community, and Life Transitions with DeWayne and LaToya Griffin of Just Love Coffee Cafe Alpharetta and Kaye Ginsberg of Peace of Mind Transitions (Family Business Radio, Episode 73)
In this episode of Family Business Radio, host Anthony Chen welcomes DeWayne and LaToya Griffin of Just Love Coffee Cafe Alpharetta and Kaye Ginsberg of Peace of Mind Transitions for a conversation centered on legacy, care, and the kind of service that leaves people better than you found them.
DeWayne and LaToya Griffin share how an annual planning tradition led to the dream of opening a coffee shop and how that dream became a family business designed not only as a community gathering place but also as a legacy opportunity for their children. They discuss their transition from long corporate careers at State Farm into entrepreneurship, the role their son Trey now plays as general manager, and the realities of building a café that feels more like an extension of home than a transactional business.
Kaye Ginsberg brings a complementary perspective through her work as founder of Peace of Mind Transitions. She explains how her own experience helping her mother through a late-life move inspired her to build a business that supports older adults and their families through downsizing, relocation, and emotionally difficult transitions. Her work is rooted in compassion, logistics, and a commitment to helping families navigate overwhelming moments with clarity and care.
Anthony closes the episode by reflecting on a thread that ties both conversations together: the importance of family connection, trust, and the role businesses can play in serving people during some of life’s most meaningful moments. His commentary reinforces the idea that whether a business is built around hospitality or helping families through transition, lasting impact comes from putting people first.
Together, these conversations reveal a common thread: whether serving coffee or guiding a family through a major life transition, meaningful businesses are often built on love, attention to detail, and a desire to make life better for others.
Family Business Radio is underwritten and brought to you by Anthony Chen with Lighthouse Financial Network. The show is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.
Key Takeaways from This Episode
- Career transitions allowed DeWayne and LaToya Griffin to transform a long-discussed family dream into Just Love Coffee Cafe Alpharetta.
- The Griffins built the café with family legacy in mind, creating an opportunity for their children, especially their son Trey, who now serves as general manager.
- Their vision for the café was never just coffee. They wanted a true community space where people could gather, connect, and feel known.
- Running a family business requires boundaries and rhythm. The Griffins talk about weekly family meetings and intentional guardrails to protect both family relationships and the business.
- Kaye Ginsberg explains that senior move management is about far more than logistics. It is deeply emotional work that helps families navigate downsizing and relocation with compassion and expertise.
- Peace of Mind Transitions grew out of Kaye’s own experience helping her mother, which gave her firsthand insight into how overwhelming these transitions can be for families.
- Legacy is framed as both what is built and how people are cared for along the way.
Topics Discussed in this Episode
00:24 Anthony Chen opens the show and introduces DeWayne and LaToya Griffin of Just Love Coffee Cafe Alpharetta
00:59 DeWayne Griffin shares how an annual family planning trip led to the dream of opening a coffee shop
02:23 The Griffins explain their corporate transitions from State Farm and how the business opportunity became real
03:00 Why Just Love Coffee stood out: the brand matched their family values and long-term vision
03:41 LaToya Griffin explains why the café was really built as a legacy play for their children, especially their son Trey
05:25 The Griffins tell the story of how they met at church and then reconnected at State Farm through a football team
07:44 The couple reflects on when they knew the relationship was serious, including the September 12, 2001 story
09:34 DeWayne shares the New Year’s Eve proposal story, including the “light” Christmas gift exchange that almost backfired
11:27 How Trey got pulled into the coffee shop vision and why the business became a development opportunity for him
13:42 The Griffins discuss first-year realities: staffing, waste, inventory, margins, and why the restaurant business is not for the faint of heart
15:23 LaToya says “build it and they will come” is not true, and explains the marketing lessons they learned the hard way
15:32 DeWayne explains their goal of creating a true “third space” for connection, not just another coffee stop
17:36 Why doing the business as a family gives them the bandwidth to network, grow, and stay involved in the community
18:29 The Griffins talk about protecting family time, setting guardrails, and using a weekly family business meeting to keep the café from taking over home life
22:39 LaToya describes the experience they wanted to create in the café: not transactional, but relational, comfortable, and community-centered
23:52 “Cheers meets Love Jones”: LaToya explains the vibe, hospitality, and intentional customer connection they wanted the café to embody
24:34 DeWayne says the café is really an extension of their home and of LaToya’s Southern hospitality
26:06 The Griffins share where the café is located in Alpharetta and why practical details like parking matter to the guest experience
27:05 “Eat, Drink, Love”: DeWayne explains the shop’s values, specialty coffee focus, and why the food surprises people
28:26 Anthony transitions to Kaye Ginsberg of Peace of Mind Transitions and frames the second half around care, legacy, and love
28:44 Kaye Ginsberg explains what senior move management is and why it is both logistical and deeply emotional work
29:12 Kaye shares the personal story of helping her mother after her father’s sudden death and discovering the need for this kind of service
30:06 The Maryland move-manager experience shows Kaye what compassionate, expert transition support can look like
31:12 Kaye describes becoming an empty nester, trying to reenter the workforce, and deciding instead to build her own company
32:28 Why Peace of Mind Transitions began simply with the goal of helping people, even before there was much of a formal business plan
47:31 Kaye shares an early client story that confirmed she was doing the right work, including helping a woman downsize while her daughter was dying of cancer
49:33 Kaye explains why families should not try to handle these transitions alone and how people can reach Peace of Mind Transitions
50:03 Anthony brings all three guests back together and asks what legacy and values they hope to pass on to the next generation
51:40 LaToya says her legacy is leaving everything better than she found it, through hard work, discipline, and love
52:26 DeWayne says he wants to leave family and community better, and to be remembered for his smile and passion for people
53:17 Kaye says her legacy is doing the right thing, leaving the world a little better, and building on resilience, hard work, and kindness
54:10 Anthony closes with a reflection that true wealth is not dollars and cents, but purpose, community, and values passed to the next generation
DeWayne and LaToya Griffin, Just Love Coffee & Cafe Alpharetta
Get ready to feel the love, Alpharetta, Milton, and the surrounding areas! Just Love Coffee & Cafe Alpharetta is brewing up something special, and it’s all thanks to DeWayne and LaToya Griffin and their amazing family. This dynamic duo, known for their warm hospitality (friends call them the ultimate “hosts”), are bringing their passion for community and delicious coffee to town.
Their journey to Just Love Coffee & Cafe began back in their 30s when they discovered their love of coffee while frequenting various coffee houses in Central Illinois. This newfound love sparked the dream of one day opening their own coffeehouse. Their dream started to become a reality after the pandemic. Both experienced unexpected shifts in their professional careers post-pandemic, leaving them feeling uncertain about the future and seeking a more fulfilling path. The pandemic, with its lockdowns and social distancing, highlighted the importance of human connection and the role local businesses play in fostering a sense of belonging. It was then that DeWayne and LaToya decided to turn their long-held dream into a reality. Drawn to Just Love Coffee & Cafe’s mission of spreading love and building community, they felt it aligned perfectly with their own values and aspirations. It was May 2023 when a family adventure at Discovery Day to learn about the coffee brand in Brentwood, Tennessee, solidified their decision. With their son Tre’on, a coffee aficionado with many years of barista experience, joining the team, the project is truly a family affair.
The Griffins are eager to create a space where everyone feels welcome, from the first-time coffee drinker to the seasoned connoisseur. Stop by, grab a cup of joe or tea, enjoy some delicious food, and experience the love for yourself. Just Love Coffee & Cafe is open in Alpharetta, your new favorite spot to connect, recharge, and feel the love.
Kaye Ginsberg, Peace of Mind Transitions
Kaye Ginsberg is the Founder and Owner of Peace of Mind Transitions, a senior and specialty move management company dedicated to helping older adults and their families navigate the often overwhelming process of relocation. The company specializes in guiding clients through downsizing, organizing, moving, resettling, and estate clear-outs with care and efficiency.
Kaye understands that a move later in life is far more than a change of address. It is an emotional transition filled with memories, milestones, and important decisions. Peace of Mind Transitions provides compassionate, hands-on support to ease both the physical and emotional challenges of moving from a longtime home into a new living space.
Moving has been a constant throughout Kaye’s life. As the daughter of an Air Force father, she relocated every three to four years, developing early adaptability and resilience. After earning a degree in Advertising and Marketing from the University of Kansas, Kaye built a successful career in New York City’s advertising and publishing industries, including serving as Marketing Director of Condé Nast Traveler magazine.
Her professional path took on new meaning when she personally guided her own mother through a senior move. That experience inspired her to found Peace of Mind Transitions, combining her organizational expertise, marketing leadership, and deep empathy to support families during life’s major transitions.
Kaye and her team are committed to delivering not just a well-managed move but true peace of mind throughout the entire process.
Anthony Chen, Host of Family Business Radio
Family Business Radio is sponsored and brought to you by Anthony Chen with Lighthouse Financial Network. Securities and advisory services are offered through OSAIC, member FINRA/SIPC. RAA is separately owned, and other entities and/or marketing names, products, or services referenced here are independent of OSAIC. The main office address is 575 Broadhollow Rd., Melville, NY 11747. You can reach Anthony at 631-465-9090, ext. 5075, or by email at anthonychen@lfnllc.com.
Anthony Chen started his career in financial services with MetLife in Buffalo, NY, in 2008. Born and raised in Elmhurst, Queens, he considers himself a full-blooded New Yorker while now enjoying his Atlanta, GA, home. Specializing in family businesses and their owners, Anthony works to protect what is most important to them. From preserving to creating wealth, Anthony partners with CPAs and attorneys to help address all of the concerns and help clients achieve their goals. By using a combination of financial products ranging from life, disability, and long-term care insurance to many investment options through Royal Alliance, Anthony looks to be the eyes and ears for his client’s financial foundation. In his spare time, Anthony is an avid long-distance runner.
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