Business Feature:
Keepsmiling A’Latte Kesson & Co.

Keepsmiling A’Latte Kesson & Co. is much more than a coffee shop—it’s a story of love, resilience, and choosing hope in the face of unimaginable loss.

Owner Angel Haynes opened the downtown Mount Airy café in honor of her adopted son, Kesson, who was born prematurely after being exposed to opioids during pregnancy. Despite his difficult start, Kesson grew into a joyful little boy who brought light to everyone around him. Tragically, at just two years old, he passed away unexpectedly from an undiagnosed heart defect.

One of Angel’s sweetest memories was singing the lyrics “Keep smiling, keep shining” to Kesson every night as his lullaby. After losing him in 2018, she made herself a promise that, despite her grief, she would continue to “keep smiling” in his memory. That promise became the foundation of Keepsmiling A’Latte Kesson & Co.

Leaving behind her corporate career, Angel opened the coffee shop not only to serve handcrafted coffee, but also to create a place where kindness, hope, and community are shared every day. She often says:

“Everything about this shop is him. I tell people that this is his shop, and we all just work here.”

Today, Keepsmiling A’Latte has become more than a neighborhood coffee shop—it’s a place where kindness and community come together. While guests love the handcrafted specialty lattes, it’s the welcoming atmosphere and heartfelt mission that keeps people coming back. Angel is passionate about giving back through local outreach, charitable initiatives, and meaningful acts of generosity, including the shop’s “Pay With a Post-It Note” wall. Guests can purchase a drink for someone they may never meet, creating small moments of joy with the simple message: “Take one if you need one. Pay for one if you can.” It’s a beautiful reflection of the compassion and hope that continues to ripple throughout Mount Airy and the surrounding community.

The story behind Keepsmiling A’Latte is a powerful reminder that even in life’s hardest moments, love can be transformed into something that brings comfort, joy, and connection to an entire community. Every cup served carries Kesson’s legacy—one of compassion, generosity, and choosing to keep smiling.

Join us in celebrating what makes Keepsmiling A’Latte so special.

In honor of Kesson’s 10th birthday on July 28, let’s fill the coffee shop with balloons and celebrate the beautiful life and legacy that inspired it all. Together, we can honor Kesson’s memory by surrounding the space with love, smiles, and a reminder that his story continues to touch so many lives.

Stop by, bring a balloon if you’d like, grab your favorite coffee, and help us make this a day filled with kindness, community, and celebration.