Center City Scenes: Coffee shops brew camaraderie, ideas

The morning regulars order a personalized dose of liquid caffeine, scour the newspaper and pontificate on the top issues of the day. Cyber workers, armed with laptops and cell phones, find quiet corners to balance projects on the “to-do” list with the innate need to interact with other human beings. Later in the day, singles and mingles (empty nesters) happily co-exist until late into the evening.

The coffeehouse has truly emerged as the melting pot of today’s society.

These dens of mocha gratification are also centers of commerce. Countless informal business meetings transpire here every day. Inspirations are sketched on paper napkins. Real estate is leased and sold. Mergers are nurtured from concept to signing on the dotted line. Nonprofits collaborate to maximize limited resources.

The coffeehouse market itself is rapidly expanding.

The success of the Mudhouse on South Avenue has sparked at least seven businesses in center city – Mudlounge, an evening gathering spot with both coffee and adult beverages; Gailey’s, a full-service breakfast and lunch café; Merle’s Hot Dog Emporium, which recently expanded to a full breakfast menu in its larger location on East Walnut; Big Momma’s Coffee & Espresso Bar, a Commercial Street neighborhood hub; The Front Porch, a Christian coffeehouse and performance venue; The Coffee Ethic, in the renovated Kresge Building on Park Central Square and adjacent to the new downtown library; and Rendezvous Coffee Lounge, scheduled to open soon on Park Central West.

While other downtowns have experienced similar growth in the coffee business, it’s interesting to note that franchises have yet to venture into the heart of center city. This is likely due to several factors, including strong connections between the owners and their customers, eclectic and historic buildings, prominent displays of local art (visual and performance), and walk-in locations rather than drive-through windows.

It’s the authenticity of places such as the Mudhouse that incubates ideas grounded in community, focused on possibilities rather than fear, and designed to be economically and environmentally sustainable.

Springfield is entering a time of exciting potential and formidable challenges.

How do we maintain center city’s momentum? How do we develop and attract the next generation of workers? How do we make sure we can fund the police and fire pensions? How do we appropriately reward outstanding teachers and invest in quality educational facilities? How can we reduce the percentage of Springfieldians living in poverty?

How do we accomplish these tasks while continuing to be a great place to own a business with a very competitive cost of living?

The resolution of these issues won’t be found in the all-to-brief letters to the editor or between the commercial breaks on talk radio. The collective wisdom of our city will be found in its citizens – young and old, wealthy and strapped – listening to and talking with each other over a “grande cup of joe.”

Rusty Worley, executive director of Urban Districts Alliance, can be reached at rusty@itsalldowntown.com.[[In-content Ad]]