I have had to stop coming in here so this may read more like an obituary by the time you are through with reading this.
For the past seven years I would go in for my morning jolt before work and again later in the day during an evening stroll, but over the summer I have gradually started to lose all desire to come in here.
The atmosphere and quality has been devolving over the past several months into the resulting entropy. Even the coffee tastes different, and not at all for the better. I am not sure how many years this place has been open yet now they decide to change the coffee? I am guessing because of the cost, because I doubt the roaster is extinct. It's always a sign of new ownership and big changes when the quality goes down. Many people that buy into a business don't have the same entrepreneurial vision, patience, organization, FOCUS to detail, and LOVE of their product to open own business, so they buy one that is already running and derail that train. It's often the lazy person's mistake, not realizing that running a business is constant work, and fantasize about the idea of being their own boss. Similar to raising a child and I have seen a lot of "bad parenting" in my line of work.
I am not a typical "East Ender" who feels the need to hobnob with the owners of every business I frequent, therefore, I am not entirely certain what has been going on but it shows that there have been changes in line-up and people do talk in such a small town. Whatever instability or disruption that occurs amongst the management is reflected in how the product is presented. This place has become terribly inconsistent over the past year and even more so over the summer. The quality of the baked goods fluctuates, there is always someone different working in the back. Even the presentation can be mind-blowing: you do realize customers don't want to give you their money in exchange for something that looks like it fell on the floor. Or a drink that tastes more like water because they used too much ice. This place is horrible about being consistent to ANY standards now. It is sad when the two most important parts of your business, the coffee and the service, are both dealt with a negligible attitude.
There was a definite gamble when I would go in during the evening because the quality of service was dependent on which barista was working. Sometimes I would go in during the evening when the blond, dread-locked kid was working and the place is a mess. With him there it was more like Russian Roulette. Attention: your workspace is filthy and my drink barely passes for what I ordered. Pay attention to what you are doing. Haven't you learned how to do your job yet after several years? I worked in a coffee shop while I was going to graduate school in Boston and there were plenty of people working there who thought they could have a lackadaisical attitude towards the job and had never acquired a work ethic beforehand but those people did not last long or learned to keep up their end.
I would presume that such an environment would only create resentment amongst stronger employees who put forth the effort, enjoy their job and are considerate of the customers time and money by giving them a good (even decent) product.
I have noticed that some of the really great staff members are no longer at this shop but I don't need to wonder why that is. I don't see how anyone could have the patience to work at such a place. A few good people are still working but that one person in particular makes me curious as to why he still works there and who had the bad business sense to hire him in the first place. He is incapable of crafting a proper drink, treats his work area (where you serve FOOD that people put into their mouth) like his own personal pigpen, has annoyed me as well as my friends with his off-color jokes and gratuitous attempts at flirting. Please stop trying to be cool, funny, and subversive: you are failing horribly! No; I have no interest in seeing your tattoos and it is none of your business if I am into girls. Some other people that I have seen working there are usually in their own world or others still seem to have trouble making a drink the way I ordered it.
Maybe they can start giving their coffee away for free, because I refuse to give them any more business.
On a final note, I just need to say that this used to be my favorite place to hang out when I first moved to the island because it captured the free-spirited energy that makes coffee shops such a palatable maverick of society. There was even the added perk of being able to chat with the baristas! Baristas that were friendly, smart, and entertaining. Even the music was unusual and new to my ears, but still enjoyable. Yes, this place WAS intensely cool. And in such a beautiful building, even a bit over the top for a coffeehouse (imagine the overhead- yikes!).
Ah, well: "All good things must come to an end." -Chaucer read more