Fear not, Starbucks junkies: the store at Broad and White streets in downtown Red Bank is only closed for renovations, and will reopen May 14, according to a posted notice.
Meantime, there’s no shortage of java in the area, including the locally owned Rook Coffee Roasters store just two doors away on White Street.
Coffee drinkers: what’s your favorite coffee joint, and why? (Photo by Trish Russoniello. Click to enlarge)
Commuters will be able to text in their coffee orders for quick pickup at Rook Coffee Roasters in the borough rail station. (Photo by Wil Fulton. Click to enlarge)
By WIL FULTON
Since late 2010, the concession pavilion at the Little Silver Train Station has been vacant, forcing NJ Transit riders to dash to neighboring stores for coffee, only to rush back to make their train in time.
The mad scramble for a caffeine fix is over. Rook Coffee Roasters officially opened for business Saturday at the station concession stand, filling a void for commuters and passersby alike.
Rook Coffee Roasters plans to set up shop this autumn in the wood-paneled interior of the borough-owned train station. (Photos by Connor Soltas. Click to enlarge)
By CONNOR SOLTAS
After a nearly two-year vacancy, the Little Silver Train Station is about to get a fresh coffee shop. And the new tenant believes it has a business model that will help it avoid the fate of its short-lived predecessors.
Rook Coffee Roasters announced a plan last Thursday to open its fourth retail store in the borough-owned station’s concession space this fall. Bagels, sandwiches and various baked goods will be for sale in addition to coffee, each cup of which is individually brewed to order, according to co-owner Holly Migliaccio.
Rook’s owners believe the keys to survival at the station lie in making the stand a draw to non-commuting locals and using wireless technology to expedite individual orders.