New Coffee Cafe Opens in Adams
ADAMS, Mass. — The Coffee Liberation Front has begun.
Owners of the Coffee Liberation Front on Park Street, Alison and Christopher Cuff, said their café was meant to be in Adams.
The Cuffs are familiar with the area. Allison used to teach music at Herberg Middle School in Pittsfield and Chris often camped in the Berkshires. Once they got married and moved east, they vowed to make their way west once again.
The venture, which began over a year and a half ago, started out grim in many ways.
Alison said they walked away from the first location after making the long ride from Middleborough.
"This was very karmic. The building that we originally looked at the realtor wouldn't even show up," Alison said. "We were angry because we drove three hours. It was just not going to work no matter what we did."
After heading back home somewhat defeated, they took to the internet and found the vacant Carlow building that had just gone on the market. Alison said she often admired the building when taking bike rides on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail.
She said the historic flat-iron building was overwhelming at first and they weren't sure if they wanted to make the investment. The inside was in disarray and the spire was pulling away from the building.
The Cuffs took to a nearby picnic table to contemplate.
"We were thinking about an offer ... when a man pulled up on a bike and asked if we knew where to get coffee so we … said, 'hopefully this will be a coffee shop someday,' " Alison said. "Then a crow landed on the spire, and in animal medicine that means magic is beginning, so we made the offer and he accepted it ... it was all fated. I don't know if we would have made the offer if that man didn't stop."
The Cuffs fitted a metal crow Christopher made on the spire to represent this moment.
Alison said when "everyone goes right we go left" and promised that the Coffee Liberation Front will provide something different in Adams.
Patrons will find a vegan menu fueled by organic coffee and free Wi-Fi.
Christopher said they hope that they can offer people another option for coffee in town that is not Dunkin' Donuts.
"It's a David and Goliath story in many ways," he said. "We can't compete with them and we understand that, but it's the Coffee Liberation Front and we want to liberate people from the ordinary and give them something a little extra special."
Alison said they do not want to compete with other food establishments in town and will not offer muffins, bagels, or sandwiches but rather specialty salads and artisanal toast.
The café will feature a new salad every week with a fruit and a vegetable. She said they are also stocked with interesting cheeses, spreads, and homemade preserves and jams.
Alison said the Coffee Liberation Front is all about good food and good coffee.
"We are not hipsters, and I am not putting a rose on every latte," she said. "I can do a cat but that is not what it is about. It is about friendly service, good coffee, and it is just about being magical and having fun."
Overwhelmed by their recent purchase, the couple had stopped at the Corner Lunch on Summer Street for a bite to eat where they met the owners, who pointed them toward local contractors Duda & Holland who guided them through the renovation.
"Without their support, visions, and their belief in this it wouldn't have happened because those two guys are amazing and that's how it came about," Alison said. "It all fell into place, and we found the right people."
Christopher said it fit together like a "jigsaw puzzle" and Duda & Holland brought on an amazing local plumber. He said after visiting Greylock Federal Credit Union across the street, they stopped at Town Hall to meet Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco, who Christopher found was actually from the same town, Randolph.
"We own the café you don't need to tip us. It is our choice to be here," Alison said. "It's not a lot of money but I have couple animals I have supported for years and we will also look for local animal organizations. ... There is no end to the animals that need help."
She added that another goal of theirs is to keep Adams clean. Their takeout boxes, cups, straws, and utensils are 95 percent compostable.
"You can plant them in the garden," she said. "It costs us more money but it is important to us ... and people are excited about it."
The café represents a home base for everything the Cuffs hold dear. Both are musicians and Alison said she would like to hold open mics at the Coffee Liberation Front.
Also, Alison said the café will be the permanent home of for her Heart Pockets and Wishing Cats, now known as Coffee Cats, which are totem protectors and totem pendulums
She practices astrology, tarot, magic, gemstone healing and said she comes from a long line of talented psychics.
"I do a lot of work with healing with animals and people … It's all about the magic, whimsy, and the fun," she said. "I travel to Renaissance Fairs and I decided I am tired of schlepping around a big tent ... we love coffee, Chris is retired, and we thought we should put all of our passions in one place."
The totems can be purchased at the café and Allison said Adams residents have taken a liking to them. She said one lady purchased some coffee cats for her children's Easter basket and a local healer picked one up.
Many of these creations are inspired by King Esme Phillipe II, "the big gray cat" that acts as Alison's muse.
"He literally is on the official tax form for Esme's Heart Pockets and is the unofficial CEO on the form for this building," she said. "It's all about the big grey cat and this is where the cool cats go for joe ... These all came out of a place of healing and love and it's all part of this."
The Coffee Liberation Front is open every day from 8:30 to 4 except Tuesdays and Wednesdays. They will offer longer hours in the summer.
The menu can be found here and more information on Esme's Heart Pockets can be found here.
Updated on April 11 to correct several errors/typos.
Tags: new business, coffeeshop,
