Garrettsville – This dream has been brewing for years. Finally, its time has nearly come. Coffee will soon be served at Garrettsville’s new local coffee shop! Owners Whitney and Derek Podboy invite the community to their grand opening for The Cellar Door Coffee Company, Saturday, November 26, 2-8pm at 8138 Water Street.
This open house falls on Small Business Saturday, the local merchants’ response to big box stores’ Black Friday holiday promotions the day before. Samples, give-aways, music, candlelight and hospitality will all contribute to the festive environment at Cellar Door.
Serving specialty brews from coffee beans roasted by Youngstown’s Stone Fruit Roaster, Harney & Sons Fine Teas, and delectable pastries supplied daily by a local baker, The Cellar Door Coffee Company now occupies the historic feed mill at the apex of Garrettsville’s Main Street (formerly Rosie Jean’s Winery). Cellar Door offers comfortable spaces to gather with friends, enjoy free wi-fi, or host a private business meeting or celebratory event. Customers are encouraged to soak in the classic ambience of the main floor, then spread out and find a quiet nook on the cellar level, or enjoy some fresh air by Eagle Creek on the outdoor patio. Even the kids have their own tucked-away space with a couch and a Lego bar on the lower level.
“We had always thought we’d do this as a retirement plan, but my dream just wouldn’t wait!” explains Whitney, whose career background includes marketing and event planning. She and Derek — a mechanical engineer at NASA — have had their eye on this historic building ever since the dilapidated structure was restored by builder Mick Mascheck. As a child whose parents hail from Garrettsville and Hiram, and whose grandmother served as a school principal in Windham, Whitney used to pass by the old mill and be dismayed by the deserted eyesore. Now, to be a part of its revival, Whitney says that leasing the 164-year-old structure is an honor.
“We love the history of this building and we want it to be a warm, inviting gathering place for members of the community to meet up with old friends, discover new friends, and consider it as their cozy second home.”
Paying tribute to the rich history of Garrettsville and surrounding communities, the building itself is a monument to 1850s-era construction materials and methods, including giant rough-hewn structural beams and immense stone blocks comprising the exposed cellar walls. The Podboys reflect that rustic aesthetic in the shop’s furnishings and decor: The coffee bar was built from reclaimed wood, and its countertop features sheet metal and copper. Derek has built the tables from heavy planks of distressed wood mounted on legs fashioned from pipe fittings. Vintage wooden chairs are assembled around each table. The main floor picture window offers vaulted views of Main Street while its interior walls are adorned with old maps, photos and news clipping found in the basement of Whitney’s grandmother, Margaret (Howdy) Miller.
Inspiration for the shop name came from Neil Young’s 1974 Live at the Cellar Door album, Derek says. The Podboys grew up in Burton and now reside in Auburn. High school sweethearts, the couple has enduring ties to this region, its history and its sense of community. This is why they are dedicated to sourcing their coffees and baked goods locally, and dedicating their coffee shop to the good of the neighborhood.
The Cellar Door will be open 7am-8pm Mondays through Saturdays (closed Tuesdays), and 10am-4pm Sundays. Keep up with the latest developments via their Facebook page: Cellar Door Coffee Co., the company website, www.cellardoorcoffeeco.com (also garrettsvillecoffee.com), or by calling the shop at (330) 357-5013.
