Nestled in the heart of Wyndmoor, Locals Coffee has become more than just a place to grab a morning brew. Its star is rising, and we’re not talking about the five-star review variety, although those remain strong. This coffee shop, owned and operated by Scott and Alana Davis, recently found itself in the spotlight after being featured in the Apple TV+ series, “Dope Thief.”

“Dope Thief,” based on Dennis Tafoya’s novel of the same name, was adapted for the streaming channel by showrunner Peter Craig. The series is set in and around Philadelphia. Starring Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura, the duo play friends Ray Driscoll and Manny Carvalho, who impersonate DEA agents and rob low-level stash houses. When they steal from the wrong people, their lives become messy and dangerous. 

The action unfolds over eight episodes, and viewers can catch glimpses of recognizable area sights: Philadelphia City Hall, classic rowhouses, and Locals Coffee. 

The shop is located in an old bank along Willow Grove Avenue. In late 2023, Scott Davis’ recalled receiving a phone call from an unfamiliar area code. “I don't often answer my phone if I don't recognize who is calling, so I let it go to voicemail," he said.

The voicemail was from a customer who happened to be working as a location scout for Apple TV+. "The message said, 'This is Apple TV calling, and we're interested in your location,'" Scott explained. Initially skeptical, he Googled to double-check that the person and the offer were legitimate.  

Site specifics

When Alana realized a television show would be shot at her small business, she got excited. The production team's visit before filming made the experience even more real, especially since the location was deemed perfect. “There's nothing they needed to change," Alana said proudly. 

The production team told her that when they film on location, more often than not, something needs to be done to make it fit the scene or the story. Sometimes, locations require extensive modifications, but not at their shop. They were even allowed to keep the name on the windows intact. "They normally take down the brands and make up some brand,” Alana said. “This was a significant compliment to Scott's design and vision for the shop.”

Filming for “Dope Thief” took place over three days, with the production team transforming the quiet neighborhood into a bustling film set. "A big bus rolls up and I don't know if it was a hundred people, but it felt like a hundred," Scott said. "They took over our parking lot, they had tents set up with all the monitors." 

The filming process was eye-opening for the Davises. "It was crazy to us," Alana said, "To realize how much production goes into a three-minute scene of a multi-episode drama series." 

Locals’ scene appears in episode seven, directed by Marcela Said, and featuring Nesta Cooper, who recently appeared on TV in “Fire Country,” and Marin Ireland, who popped up as Katherine Graham in “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans.” Between takes, both actors hung out in the kitchen with the staff. In an exterior shot, Cooper, who plays a lawyer, walks past Locals. The cafe’s bright and airy interior is on display in another shot, with extras drinking beverages. 

Henry was also on site that day. He’s credited as an executive producer on the show. “He and Scott hit it off fantastically,” Alana said. Henry is now the proud owner of a white Locals Coffee trucker hat.

 “Locals at Night”

The Davises said their brush with Hollywood was nothing but positive and are open to more offers. In the meantime, Locals Coffee has its own exciting plans. "We're going to start opening at nighttime," Alana said. The evening venture, dubbed “Locals at Night,”  will feature beer, wine, snacks, live music, and trivia nights.

"It's not gonna be a dinner place," Scott clarified. "More of a ‘have a drink, have some appetizers, listen to some music, play some cornhole.’" This new chapter promises to further solidify Locals Coffee's place as a central gathering spot in Wyndmoor. After all, you never know who might show up.