Gilmore's Mercantile

good independent roasters in gastonia aren't common enough that you can afford to overlook one. gilmore's mercantile on east franklin boulevard operates as both a roastery and a retail space, which means the coffee you're drinking was likely roasted a short distance from where you're sitting. that distinction matters more than it sounds. gastonia's been having a quiet moment lately, and places like this are part of why. the regulars here are loyal in the way people get loyal when somewhere genuinely delivers, week after week, without variation. if you're coming from out of town, east franklin is worth the detour. start with whatever's on the single-origin rotation that day.