Alakef Coffee Roasters Open House 11/12
Alakef has been roasting specialty coffees in Duluth, near the shore of Lake Superior, for 20 years! Come and enjoy coffee, cake and snacks, roasting demonstrations (by Ezra Bennett) and live music provided by Musicality.
Friday, Nov. 12, 3-6pm
Duluth could use a lot more small businesses like Alakef Coffee. Congratulations to them.
I love Alakef coffee and wish this local business that makes my entire neighborhood smell delish all the time the best.
I agree with Dave. Watching the evolution of this small business has been pretty remarkable. We did a bunch of work in the old school on London Road where they used to be located. They started in one small room in the basement. They then took over a couple more rooms. Eventually they grew to encompass pretty much the entire basement. And a few years ago they outgrew that space and built the new spot on East Superior St. Very cool to see what they’ve grown into these past 17 years or so.
Will Alakef ever put a coffee shop in that space on East Superior? That would be awesome.
newt:
i’m not an office kind of guy, so specifics are a little beyond me. however, from what i can gather…
short answer: i wouldn’t count on it anytime soon, if at all. we have had a lot of people look at the space over the last few years and seems nobody is able to make a go at it.
Mainly due to (i believe) the build-out requirements. it would pretty much need the works (electrical, plumbing, etc…) which would make a startup almost impossible.
There, too, is the fact that we would in effect be competing against our own customers here in town.
A shop anchoring that space and in effect that chunk of neighborhood (14th is a major lakewalk/hillside pedestrian corridor…i totally agree that there would be an excellent fit.
Zra, you have the second coolest job in town (Crystal P has the coolest one). I love the Alakef space, you guys really should do more with it — poetry readings, concerts, art exhibits….
Everyone else, you have 30 mins. to catch this open house!
big huge thanks to everyone who made it down, whether i got to meet you or no…
thanks!
Ah. Thanks for the explanation, zra. I wish the answer were different, but I see why it’s not. I’m sad there can’t be a Beaner’s East in that spot.
There used to be a coffee shop in the space where Designer Dogs is now, I loved it, too bad it folded.