The old coffee shop on 3rd Ave finally ditched their mismatched mugs

I've been going to Brew & Bean on 3rd Ave for about 4 years now. For the longest time every drink came in a different chipped thrift store mug, which had its own charm. Last month they switched to all matching ceramic cups, same style in three sizes. Honestly feels a little sterile now, the old collection gave the place personality. Anybody else notice a local spot lose its character after a change like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

beth_reed18d ago

Did your friend ever go there? Mine, Sarah, she was obsessed with that place because they had this one mug with a chipped handle shaped like a bear ear. She'd always request it. Now she says it feels like a chain coffee shop, not the local haunt she loved. She stopped going last week, said the new cups just don't hit the same.

the_sam18d ago

My friend Jenny had the same thing happen with a diner near us... they used to have these weird mismatched plates and she always got the one with a little bluebird on it. Then the new owners came in, bought all matching white plates, and she just couldn't do it anymore. What worked for her was actually taking the plate home with her... she asked if she could buy it off them since they were throwing them out anyway, and they let her have it for free. Now she keeps it on her shelf at home, still drinks her coffee out of it every morning... kinda like her own little ritual that kept the memory alive. Might be worth seeing if your friend Sarah can grab that bear ear mug before it disappears completely.

kim_johnson512d ago

Ngl your friend Sarah sounds like she has the right idea with the bear ear mug. My buddy Dave had the exact same thing happen at a breakfast joint near his work. They used to have this dented aluminum coffee pot that he swore made the coffee taste better, and when they switched to a fancy stainless steel one he actually asked the owner if he could take the old one home. The owner laughed and gave it to him for free because it was just gonna get trashed anyway. Now Dave brings that stupid pot to every camping trip and tells the story about how it saved his morning ritual. Honestly those little quirks are what make a place feel like home.