First Street Coffee Exchange
Location: 1211 First St.
Owners/manager: Vera Maul (manager) and daughter Marcia Gofstein (owner)
Philosophy: “We try to please everybody.”
Maul said the shop has a faithful group of regulars that includes “seven ladies” who stop by every morning of the week. Regulars also include a steady stream of laptop users who can patch into the coffee shop’s Internet connection for free.
“All they have to do is buy a drink,” Maul said, pointing out the shop offers a specialty called a “Toddy,” an espresso drink with Half & Half on ice.
“It’s made with a special espresso that sits for 48 hours before you can use it,” Maul said, “so it’s kind of unusual.”
History: The family purchased the coffee shop, once part of Kinney Shoes, in September 2002.
Services: Coffee, espresso drinks, pastries, cold drinks, smoothies. Free wireless Internet service.
Hours: Monday – Friday 5:30am-9:30pm; Sat. 7am-9:30pm; Sun. 7am-7:30pm
Contact: 842-1340 (phone), 842-1341 (fax)
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