Coffee connoisseurs looking for in-house roasting in Midtown will soon have a specialty coffee shop for espresso fixes and coffee cravings.
TriBeCa Coffee signed a lease for a 1,300 square-foot space at 1210 N. Charles St. where owner James Jean will spend as much as $250,000 to open the 30-seat coffee lovers paradise. Jean expects to open the Mount Vernon shop by early November.
TriBeCa is one of a number of artisan and specialty coffee shops that have opened recently in Baltimore. This summer, Spike Gjerde's
Artifact Coffee opened in Hampden and
Lamill Coffee opened at the Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore.
Located near the University of Baltimore close to the intersection of Charles and East Preston Streets, TriBeCa coffee will feature coffee beans from multiple origins, various brewing methods and store-roasted coffee beans.
Jean was drawn to the location for its ample foot traffic due to its proximity to nearby universities such as the Maryland Institute College of Art, University of Baltimore and Peabody Institute.
But Jean will face serious competition from national coffee chain Starbucks, which has a location across the street. By offering coffee at a lower price point, in-house roasting and a complete remodel of a former beauty salon, Jean hopes to encourage customers to get their coffee from TriBeCa as opposed to Starbucks.
A former registered nurse, Jean decided to change careers after two years of nursing and learned how to roast coffee while working in the roasting division of
Vermont Artisan Coffee and Tea Co.
He traveled across the country researching how to run his first specialty coffee shop. He plans to hire five employees to work as baristas.
Source: James Jean, owner of TriBeCa Coffee
Writer: Alexandra Wilding,
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