ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The customers kept coming, and coming — waves of thirsty folks looking to shoo away the winter chill with a cup of delicious hot coffee.
On Friday, folks escaped the Valentine’s Day chill and crowded into the quaint Nowhere Coffee Co. shop at 17 S. Ninth St. on grand opening day.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held, attended by Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk, Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong and State Sen. Nick Miller.
Proclamations were delivered. Speeches were made.
"Allentown is the beating heart of the Lehigh Valley," Tuerk said. "Now, the beating heart of Allentown is Nowhere Coffee."
Added Armstrong, "Nowhere Coffee is where it's at in Allentown. Small business is the backbone of Allentown."
"Coffee shops have historically been places where people come together to discuss topics. Coffee brings people together.”Lauren Vargas, co-owner, Nowhere Coffee Co.
But the story of the moment was customers lining up from the front counter to the front door, eager for their morning fix.
"I’ll have an espresso latte."
"Gimme a Uganda dark roast."
"I’ll take a double cappuccino."
"Just love your macchiato."
"Your coffee is my absolute favorite."
'Labor of Love'
Shop owners Juan and Lauren Vargas placed hot coffee in the hands of the patrons, who, in turn, put smiles on the faces of the owners.
“Since this is a labor of love for us," Lauren said. "Having our grand opening on Valentine’s Day is perfect.
“This all started for us because of our love of coffee and a desire to build a business centered around coffee. Coffee shops have historically been places where people come together to discuss topics. Coffee brings people together.”
“Because we have a roastery, we produce all our beans on-site. We’re excited to finally be able to offer our full range of coffees in terms of cappuccinos, lattes, traditional macchiatos and our drip coffee, which is fantastic. And all of it is made right here in downtown Allentown.”Nowhere Coffee Co. co-owner Juan Vargas
The shop also offers tea and baked goods.
A key ingredient to the shop is a coffee roastery of organic coffee beans.
The menu is diverse and includes Ugandan medium dark roast (featuring hints of cedar, dark chocolate and raisin) and Peruvian medium roast (featuring almond, caramel and milk chocolate).
“Because we have a roastery, we produce all our beans on-site,” Juan Vargas said. “We’re excited to finally be able to offer our full range of coffees in terms of cappuccinos, lattes, traditional macchiatos and our drip coffee, which is fantastic.
"And all of it is made right here in downtown Allentown.”
'Safer and more efficient'
Sharon and Dennis Dries of Allentown said they have been regular customers of Nowhere Coffee Co.'s location on Tilghman Street in South Whitehall Township.
“I just love their dark roast,” Dennis Dries said.
“I like their cappuccino,” Sharon Dries said.
The couple said their love for the coffee is underscored by their opinion of the Vargases.
"Our customers and workers were always there for us. Today, I thank them and everyone who bought a cup of coffee, a bag or wrote a kind review. We are happy to be here.”Nowhere Coffee Co. co-owner Lauren Vargas
“They’re such good people,” Dennis Dries said. “When you meet people like that, you want to support their business.”
The shop now serves as a bookend to its sister coffee shop on Tilghman Street, three miles away.
The Nowhere Coffee Co.’s Emmaus location closed last year because of an extended dispute with the landlord after damage to countertops and equipment from water leaking through the ceiling.
“Walking away was not part of the plan,” Lauren Vargas said. “The last 12 months, we wondered if we’d make it. There were times when we felt like waving the white flag.
“But our customers and workers were always there for us. Today, I thank them and everyone who bought a cup of coffee, a bag or wrote a kind review. We are happy to be here.”
The Nowhere Coffee Co. is open Tuesday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
