Meet Cody V | co-owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cody V and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cody, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Jonny had a vision—a brioche-based donut that was soft, rich, and unlike anything you’d find around here. While he wasn’t the first to dream up a brioche donut, he took his baking experience and crafted his own unique version, ready to bring something new to Southeast Houston.

When Cody heard he was thinking about opening a shop, she asked the big question—“Need a business partner?” And just like that, Blackline was born. From a shared love of great coffee, scratch-made pastries, and a little bit of stubborn determination, we built something special.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
What truly sets us apart is our bold approach to flavor. We’re not afraid to push boundaries, experiment, and introduce unique combinations that surprise and delight our guests. We even have our employees help out with flavor combinations. And the best part? Everything we make is from scratch, every single day. No shortcuts, no pre-made mixes—just real ingredients and creativity in every bite.

Getting here wasn’t easy. From struggling to find a bank that believed in our vision to tackling endless buildout challenges, and perfecting our coffee and donut recipes, there were plenty of obstacles along the way. But through it all, we leaned on each other, kept pushing forward, and turned Blackline into what it is today.

We’ve learned more lessons than we can count, but the biggest one? Never give up. Keep going, keep creating, and keep believing—even when things get tough. Because the best things are always worth the fight.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We are located right down the street from NASA Space Center so that is definitely a popular spot to visit! We also have many other small businesses that we have become friends with that we would take them to.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
We are thankful for our families support and from our friends and our CrossFit communities

Website: https://blacklinecoffeedonuts.com

Instagram: @blacklinecoffeedonuts

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blacklinecoffeedonuts/