Seattle Roast Coffee to fill space in south-side library

Seattle Roast Coffee, a concept local developer Morris Dock brought to Springfield in 2020, is filling a space that's been vacant in the Library Center since the beginning of the pandemic.

The Springfield-Greene County Library District announced in a news release this morning that Seattle Roast Coffee would become the cafe vendor at the 4653 S. Campbell Ave. library. The center also is the Library District's headquarters.

"Everyone who visits or works at the Library Center is thrilled that we'll again have that wonderful aroma of freshly brewed coffee drinks and sweet and savory treats coming from the cafe," said Kathleen O'Dell, the Library District's community relations director, via email. "Seattle Roast Coffee is wildly popular with its downtown location patrons, and we are thrilled to welcome them to the south side come spring."

Dock signed a one-year lease for $500 per month, said Jim Schmidt, associate director of the Library District.

Remodeling work is currently underway at the Library Center cafe, with plans for indoor and outdoor seating. Seattle Roast Coffee's menu options include cold brew, lattes and various frappe flavors such as Oreo, as well as food like pastries and muffins.

"We’ll be adding more delicious menu items soon," Dock said in the release.

The Library District late last year issued a request for bids to fill the coffee vendor spot at the Library Center. Mudhouse Coffee previously operated the coffee shop at the Library Center since 2008 but exited due to the coronavirus pandemic when libraries in the city were closed to foot traffic. O'Dell said Seattle Roast Coffee was chosen by a committee of administrators, the library branch manager and library trustees after receiving minimal bids.

Dock's other Seattle Roast Coffee operates at the southwest corner of South Avenue and Walnut Street – the former home of Bistro Market and a Starbucks counter.