Downtown Olympia coffee shop will remain open after all, co-managers say
The Olympia area community received a recent shock when three downtown businesses – Wayside Cafe, Bucks Spices and Teas and Rex and Rose coffee shop – all announced plans to close.
But now there’s some good news: the general manager and co-manager of Rex and Rose at 203 Fourth Ave. E., directly across from the State Theater, said Wednesday they have a new lease on life and will remain open.
However, general manager Chancellor Pruett acknowledged they have to show growth over the next two months for the silent owners of the business.
But after a busy Pride Weekend, they are right on target, he said.
So what changed for the two-year-old business?
Two key areas got tweaked. The business is now operating 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., rather than opening at 7 a.m., and it is now closed Mondays and Tuesdays, but open Wednesdays through Sundays.
“Olympia is kind of a sleepy city, so we just didn’t really work as a community place (at that hour), you know,” Pruett said. “We’re best for people to come hang out, but nobody wants to get up and go hang out at 8 a.m., right?”
Pruett and co-manager Ande Furler shared some of their ideas: they want to do more community events, they want to continue to have a rotating display of local art, and they are going to kick things off with a Back from Extinction party on July 8.
That gathering will feature merchandise raffles throughout the day, including for Rex and Rose hoodies and t-shirts, as well as music, possibly with a DJ, and they want to hear those musical recommendations from the community, said co-manager Furler.
“We always play music in here, so we’re going to have that be a community collab event ... so it’s not just us behind the DJ booth, you know, it’s got some appreciation in it for the people who are coming in and what they want to hear,” she said.
The business has a liquor license, so they are hoping to re-introduce beer and wine, plus there’s a plan to offer more food in the form of charcuterie boards, Chancellor said.
Do you operate an area coffee roaster? Rex and Rose is looking for a new coffee roaster, he said.
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