3 Questions For Brent’lee Williams of Old Cuss

Old Cuss is a cussin’ good plant-based cafe and market in South Salt Lake. We had the opportunity to chat briefly with one of the owners, Brent’lee Williams:

Where did the name Old Cuss come from?
“When I was a kid I was called a little cuss by a Sunday school teacher and I didn’t know what it meant until I was older. It’s the best way a Sunday school teacher can call their kids names. Now, I’m an old cuss and it worked well with the western theme. I’m from Kansas City, Missouri which is nicknamed Cow Town because there are more cows than humans.”

How do you come up with your specialty drinks?
“Boredom. I think it really just comes from looking at coffee from a chef mentality as opposed to looking at it from a barista mentality. Thinking about different flavor combinations, messing around with savory options. For me, I like veganizing non-vegan things and making them better. I’ll look at a strawberry shortcake and see how I can make a deconstructed strawberry shortcake and add coffee to it.”

What made you incorporate the vintage store?
“It was a hobby of mine, vintage and also when we have music here. If I’m not going to have time for hobbies anymore I have to blend my hobby into the shop. Anyone can open a coffee shop but it’s all about making unique concepts that people haven’t seen before.”