New Berlin native Rich Anderson let the idea sink in before launching Nook Coffeehouse in mid-January.
Anderson, 53, said she was inspired by a letter and a layoff.
“Just over a year ago, right after I was fired from Frontier Communications, I received a letter from the state,” he said. “I received a letter saying, “If you've ever thought about starting a business, there's a system called the Self-Employment Support Program,'' so I was able to work towards starting a business even though I was unemployed.
“I've been toying with the idea for years, but never took the step forward,” Anderson continued. “My wife and I talked for a long time and decided it was a good idea to give it a try. We had toyed with the idea of building something like a brewpub or growing our own beer, but we never really got around to it. We didn't have a place to do that, and we hadn't developed a recipe that we wanted to execute, so we looked at one of the few spaces available in New Berlin that was suitable for anything, and we developed it around that. I’m thinking of ideas.”
The resulting Nook serves locally grown coffee with a variety of dishes, Anderson said.
“I found that Utica Coffee Roasters had a variety of coffees that I loved, so I talked to them about it, and I source all my beans from Utica Coffee Roasters, not just for my espresso drinks.” he said. . “I found it very annoying to walk into a coffee shop and not find coffee. Coffee is all espresso-based drinks and it's like learning a new language. So I want to make sure there's coffee first. We have breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and we are also developing our signature menu, burgers, and fries, and we would also like to offer an appetizer-type menu for evening events.We also offer beer, We've acquired a wine and cider license and will be hosting paint and sip nights with entertainment. We'll be adding more evening events as soon as we've mastered this.”
Anderson said Nook's customers represent a “beautiful mix.”
“I think it was mostly people from surrounding towns and New Berlin, but there were a few people who spotted us on their way through town,” he said. “Due to the large number of students who come after school, especially on days when school activities are canceled due to weather, we may have to extend class hours until after 4 p.m.Currently, we have a 7 a.m. We are open until 4pm and are looking into days when we can take time off to regroup.
“We have received a lot of positive feedback and support,” Anderson continued. “People seem to be quite surprised by the transformation of this space. I finished the cherry-colored countertops myself and sourced them from a local gentleman. Until recently it was a Chinese restaurant, but over the last few years it's been a lot more… All that was left was the stainless steel walls and the hood over the cookware, so it was completely renovated from floor to ceiling.”
Anderson said he hopes to build on the early momentum and create a space that supports area makers.
“We want to spotlight as many local artists and artisans as possible, once a month. In addition, one Unadilla Valley elementary, middle or high school student will be able to display their artwork. We have space,” he said. “And we want to have local authors come and do things with their books and do autograph sessions. We currently have several bookshelves full of used books and another one. One is reserved for local history or books of local interest. They are not really for sale, but you can see them while you are here. And we will introduce more of them. need to do it.”
For more information, search “The Nook Coffeehouse” on Facebook or call 607-488-4083. The Nook, located at 24 South Main Street in New Berlin, is open Monday and Wednesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
