Coffee Shop-Bar Hybrids are Popping Up All Over Columbus
Plus, tickets are on sale for Columbus Monthly's Best New Restaurants event.
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Coffee Shop-Bar Hybrids are Popping Up All Over Columbus
By Erin Edwards
The concept of a coffee shop cohabitating with a bar isn’t new in Columbus. Just ask the 20-year-old Campus haunt Kafe Kerouac, a chill spot for coffee, beer, wine, art, books and open-mic events like Drunk PowerPoint.
We are, however, seeing a surge in Columbus coffee shops that are moonlighting as cocktail bars and vice versa. For the business owner, it would seem to make sense financially. The margins on alcohol are generally better than coffee, and the hybrid model makes use of the space all day long.
From a customer standpoint, I think that people are craving “third places” (a term coined in the 1980s by sociologist Ray Oldenburg). These are spaces to exchange ideas, relax and engage with your community outside of the first two places: home and work. In most cases (though not all), these coffee shop-bar hybrids have no TVs to disrupt your studying or conversation. You also don’t feel weird bringing a book or busting out your laptop.
Here are a few coffee shop-bar hybrids—some new and some not so new—to check out around Columbus. Have a favorite or know of one we missed? Let us know in the comments.
Bada Bean Bada Booze
Started by Thrive Cos. as part of their living communities, this alliterative family of modern coffee shop-bars is a textbook example of how a coffee shop can blur the line between daytime and nighttime. Bada Bean currently has three locations—Italian Village, Harrison West and Grandview—with a fourth opening in April at Quarry Trails. With its proximity near Campus, the Harrison West location is often full of students. The spacious Bada Bean in Grandview is adjacent to The Little Grand food hall, if you want to grab a bite or enjoy its large patio. The oldest of the bunch, Italian Village, offers a dog-friendly patio, access to a pool and programming such as Trivia Twoozeday and “The Bachelor” Bing Night.
Parable
It’s probably no surprise that one of the most creative and forward-thinking tea/coffee shops in town also boasts a wildly creative cocktail menu full of interesting flavor combinations, such as a Thai curry coconut milk punch. The bright and airy Downtown cafe transforms into a vibey wine and cocktail bar every Wednesday through Sunday from 3 to 9 p.m. Parable serves house-made pastries by day and shareable plates and sandwiches in the evenings. Not to be missed are Parable’s Sunday jazz nights.
Black Kahawa
As one of the newest coffee shops in the city, Broad and High’s Black Kahawa didn’t waste much time getting into the bar business, too. Owner Douglas Buckley roasts exclusively East African beans at Black Kahawa, which has also become known for its cardamom-forward Zanzibar Spice syrup. In the late afternoon and evening, customers can choose from four espresso martinis (one featuring Zanzibar Spice), five cocktails and beers from Rhinegeist, Guinness and Athletic Brewing. Heads up to Downtown workers, Black Kahawa has a lengthy happy hour every day from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. when cocktails are $5 off and drafts are $2 off.
Two Dollar Radio Headquarters
As home base for independent book publisher Two Dollar Radio, this indie bookshop on Parsons Avenue is a great example of a community-minded “third place.” Here, you can walk around with your coffee while you browse for a book, then sink into it until cocktail hour. The HQ offers tables scattered throughout, plus a handful of bar seats and a food menu of vegan comfort food. Event programming includes writing workshops, author talks, poetry readings, book releases, queer crafting clubs and much more.
The Lion
After roaring into Bexley last September as a cocktail bar, The Lion only recently added its coffeehouse foil. Dubbed The Coffee Shop from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, this Bexley spot features Royal Flamingo Coffee and baked goods from Littleton’s Market Bakery and Breedlove Bakery. Get there early to snag one of two cozy booths in the front windows facing Main Street.
Royal Flamingo Coffee and I Like It Like That
The three businesses at Natalie’s Grandview are akin to a Russian doll: You have Royal Flamingo Coffee inside the cocktail bar I Like It Like That which is adjacent to Natalie’s Grandview. I suppose this coffee shop-bar is an outlier since Royal Flamingo and ILILT are their own entities with separate owners and hours, but it’s a marriage between two creative boundary pushers that makes perfect sense. Royal Flamingo is open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
Roosevelt Coffeehouse and Olentangy River Brewing Co.
More of a beer drinker who likes coffee? Lewis Center’s craft brewery Olentangy River Brewing Co. houses a coffee bar operated by Roosevelt Coffeehouse that opens at 7 a.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. on weekends. Be sure to check out the excellent Venezuelan-inspired fare from Mordisco Food Truck while you’re there.
Notes
Around the Columbus Food Scene
Columbus Monthly’s annual Best New Restaurants celebration returns Tuesday, March 25, at 6:00 p.m. The tasting event is taking place at a new location this year, The Stack at Municipal Light Plant (589 W. Nationwide Blvd.). Some of this year’s participating restaurants include Calero’s Bar & Grill, Chouette, Del Mar, Gene’s and others, with cocktails from the local distiller Noble Cut. Early bird pricing is available until March 1. Reserve your tickets here.
Polaris is home to a new Yemeni coffee shop called Shibam Coffee at 8310 Sancus Blvd. The Dearborn-based coffee shop chain is now in 10 states and joins several other Yemeni coffee chains in Columbus, including Qahwah House and Qamaria.
Dulce Vida Ice Cream Factory is closing in on the opening of its newest location at 2561 Hamilton Road. This will be the fifth location for the Mexican desserts shop which specializes in paletas, ice cream, mangonadas and a wide variety of other sweets and snacks.
They make so much sense!
Clintonville: Global Gallery. Nice outdoor area (heated in winter).