STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah – Dennis Coles – celebrated the opening of Killah Koffee Shop in West Brighton along with community members and elected officials on Monday.
After more than a year of exclusively selling their artisanal ground coffee online, co-owners Coles, Ross Filler and Shawn Wigs decided to plant roots opening the company’s flagship store on Staten Island.
Coles received a Proclamation from Mayor Eric Adams and a citation from Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) thanking the Wu-Tang member for his contribution to music and congratulating Killah Koffee Shop’s grand opening.
Adams commended Coles for giving back to his community, describing him as “an institution and an inspiration.”
“There’s so many people coming out here seeing a performer, a young person who grew up here who lived in public housing and went to public school, and now is able to have a business out here; just coming back to the community. That’s what it’s all about. So we just want to say, ‘thank you.’ ‘Thank you for reinvesting,’” the mayor said.
A representative from City Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks’ (D-North Shore) office also presented a citation to Coles.
Gary Perone, executive vice president and general manager of Staten Island Entertainment, which owns the Staten Island Ferryhawks also attended the ribbon cutting. He gifted Coles a Ferryhawks hat and jersey and announced that the naming of Shaolin Alley at the ballpark in honor of Wu-Tang Clan.
Coles thanked everyone, saying that he felt “grateful and humbled.”
“I love each and every one of y’all for coming. … God bless,” he said.
When asked about the significance for Staten Island, Wigs said, “It means more culture and more flavor and more attention for Staten Island because that’s exactly what Wu-Tang and Ghostface and everybody’s been bringing.”
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Co-owner Filler said the shop is not officially open to the public yet, but to “stay tuned.” In the meantime, the company’s four flavors – Vanilla, Supreme Dark Roast, Marvelous Medium Roast and Marble Cake – can be purchased on the company’s website.
