After closing its doors mid-June, Birchwood Coffee is back in business, but there have been some pretty important changes.
For one, Eric Binion has become the shop's new owner. Birchwood, located on 49 Street, reopened Tuesday. The team running the business had quite the day, especially for Jess Duplessis, who's been working with Binion at Barren Ground Coffee for about a year and a half. Her job, as she described it, is to be all over the place.
"I roast our coffee, I do bake goods I'm a barista and I work in the kitchen," said Duplessis.
Although Birchwood wasn't open on Monday, that was her first day on the job.
"It was actually my first time ever coming in here too," Duplessis added. "I baked basically all day and we trialled some of the drinks and got the barista station ready."
The hard work seems to have paid off. Though the reopening was busy, Duplessis said it went over well. "We've gotten a lot of good feedback, so we're pretty happy."
She had some baking to do back at Barren Ground Coffee when Birchwood got their rush, she said, but she heard they got a lineup that stretched outside the shop, she said.
It's the type of reaction she was expecting, she added.
"I know a lot of people were anticipating the reopening," said Duplessis. "We were hoping for it."
The only thing Duplessis had ever tried at Birchwood, prior to getting the job there, was an egg and bannock sandwich. Though she said she loved it, it's not on the menu at the moment.
"The chef that was working at Birchwood, prior to them closing, is currently on vacation, but he is coming back. So, we're just trialling the menu and we're going to be making changes over the next couple of months probably," Duplessis said, adding they'll try to keep it as close to the original as they can.
Duplessis added that both Barren Ground and Birchwood have their appeal, and the customers coming to the latter are loyal for a reason.
"I think a lot of people that come into Barren Ground are also loyal customers here," said Duplessis. "We saw some familiar faces and a lot of new ones which we're happy about."
Former Birchwood owners Patrick Scott and Jawah Scott announced in May that the coffee shop would be closing as of June 14 after eight years in business.