LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The month of November is recognized as National Veterans and Military Families month. One Louisville veteran is using skills he learned from his time in the service to run his own business.

What You Need To Know

  • Rob Arnold served in the Navy for 6 years

  • His new business, Pregame Coffee on Frankfort Avenue, serves coffee, tea, cocktails and sports

  • Pregame Coffee offers signature drinks like the Cinnamon Toast Latte and Sting Like a Be

  • Arnold says he uses skills he learned in the service to make his business thrive

If you’ve ever walked through the doors of Pregame Coffee, believe it or not, owner Rob Arnold most likely knows your order.

“So I try to get to know my customers and start making what they want before they even get in the door,” Arnold said. “If I see Norman walking across the street, then I start making it.” This is Arnold’s way of taking customer service to the next level.

Pregame Coffee offers signature drinks like the Cinnamon Toast Latte and Sting Like a Bee, but also food and cocktails, some featuring coffee as the main ingredient. 

After spending 6 years in the Navy, Arnold got out of the service after his son was born in Jan. 2002.

“I enlisted into the Navy the day after Christmas in 1996—Dec. 26, 1996 to 2002 and I operated an anti missile gun. I was on the USSO Kill,” Arnold said.

Arnold uses a combination of skills he learned from his time in the service to run Pregame Coffee.

“You just learn these leadership skills and how to multitask and just all the general military skills that they teach you, and I feel like they’re definitely translatable to being a business owner,” Arnold said.

The idea came from wanting more from his own experience at coffee shops. He wanted a place to watch sports, but nothing like a loud sports bar.

“I wanted a cocktail or something to watch on the TV but I didn’t want to go to a sports bar, and developed a business plan and completely switched gears in my 40s,” Arnold said.

The shop on Frankfort Avenue offers coffee, tea, cocktails and sports. Above all, a service Arnold’s customers will remember and keep them coming back.

“We serve food, we serve alcohol, we serve coffee and I just wanted to provide as much service as possible because the better the service, the more they are going to come back, they’re going to remember that service,” Arnold said.

For a look at Pregame Coffee’s full menu, click here.