By Geoffrey Wertime, Staff Writer
BORDENTOWN CITY — Two relatively new businesses on Farnsworth Avenue are looking forward to the falling temperatures to bring the masses inside for a hot cup of coffee this season.
Mug & Muffin, at 210 Farnsworth Ave., has been in the city for a few months and just held its grand opening at the end of September. The café offers various forms of free entertainment along with breakfast and lunch menus and the requisite hot beverages.
Co-owner Doug Kovacs said the Bordentown shop has been “very well received” by the city, which he chose along with co-owner Jeff Daloisio for Mug & Muffin’s second location. The first location is in Hamilton.
”It’s a quaint little town, with a different clientele as far as a lot of walk-in traffic,” Mr. Kovacs said of the city. “There are other restaurants and galleries and we wanted to be part of that small-town feel.”
While some may think it strange to open a new branch in an economic slump, Mr. Kovacs said a coffee shop is just the kind of venue that works out at times such as these.
”We can offer people things to do at little or no cost,” he said, such as the store’s free bimonthly movie night, where Mug & Muffin serves free popcorn.
Other events include live music, a singles’ night, and a “girls’ night out.” A Nintendo Wii game system has also proved popular, he added, as has the free wireless Internet connection.
”We also have a wall we call Art Space, and we encourage local artists to come in and display their works,” he said. “It’s like a mini gallery showing.”
The café is on looking to add some new acoustic music acts, and is considering holding poetry readings as well.
”Once (customers) come in and they see we offer breakfast and lunch and have entertainment, they just fall in love with it immediately,” Mr. Kovacs said of his café. “It’s one of those warm and inviting places.”
For more information on Mug & Muffin, including a schedule of events, visit www.mugnmuffin.com.
The other café in the city is Beanwood Coffee, which Elizabeth Acevedo and Pedro Gomez, of Princeton, opened last winter at 222 Farnsworth Ave. It offers artisanal coffee and hot chocolate as well as tea, homemade pastries and lunch.
The couple has a coffee roasting facility in an adjacent space, and they offer a number of drinks at their storefront location. Tea Forte-brand tea is offered by the cup, while their coffee and chocolate are served with creamy designs floating on top.
Some of the shop’s other specialties include lemonade with no sugar added and vegetarian fare like “steak” made from scratch. Most of the ingredients used are organic, many of them grown in a garden in back. On weekends, the café serves up dinner, such as Latin food from places like Columbia, Cuba, and Puerto Rico.
”It’s the old-fashioned natural way of eating,” Ms. Acevado said. “We don’t cut corners.”
Though the economy has had an affect on sales, she said, the shop is still going strong.
”We’re trying to get business up, but it’s good,” she said. “People are coming in knowing a lot about us and people are recommending us.”
One way Beanwood has been getting the word out is through the Internet, with a blog at beanwoodcoffee.wordpress.com and a “microblog” at twitter.com/BeanwoodCoffee. Another is through events, including salsa classes starting this month; the Tuesday lessons cost $15 each. Music is also a regular feature at Beanwood.
Ms. Acevedo said she appreciates the increasing café culture in the city.
”More people are coming to Bordentown City because there’s more to do, eat, and see,” she said. “Everybody’s open on the weekend and there’re things to do.”
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