Sweet Mary’s Cafe – new coffee shop to open soon!
As early as Wednesday this week, Manchester will have a coffee shop once again. Almost a year after the Coffee Mill closed downtown, Sweet Mary’s Cafe will be opening up at 327 West Main Street. Owner Rachel Brazier, who has mindfully created her menu to complement rather than compete with current dining options in Manchester will be offering fresh baked goods, soup served with artisan bread, leafy salads, and sandwiches in addition to coffee.
Brazier decided to open a coffee shop both because Manchester needed one and because it would be a good fit in her life. Most recently, Brazier was the executive chef of the regionally renowned Manchester-based catering business, The Moveable Feast. She stated that while it was a great place to work, she wanted to do something in her line of work but with more family friendly hours. Talking about her previous career and the change she is making, she stated, “I was able to be challenged and be proud of what I was accomplishing, but for a mother of five the hours were a strain on my husband, the kids and myself. This seemed like the best of both worlds.”
The coffee beans Brazier will be using are fair trade and organic. She is having a unique blend, roasted just for her in Wixom. While she will offer traditional coffee shop drinks, including lattes, mochas, macchiatos, and cappuccino, you will also be able to buy coffee beans to brew at home. If you don’t drink coffee, they’ll still have options for you. They’ll be offering teas and infused waters, rotating through different flavors such as strawberry lavender lemon water.
Sweet Mary’s Cafe will primarily offer counter service but will also have seating for customers. Brazier plans to bring out the menu in stages. First they will offer muffins, croissants, bagels, scones, all fresh from a bakery. They are still deciding on a supplier. A short time later they will add on soup served with artisan bread and then finally a short time after that, salads and sandwiches. Brazier stated, “I think our menu will be a little bit different than what we have currently in Manchester. We have great pizza, hoagies, breakfast, dinner, there are a handful of good choices. The only thing missing, a good leafy salad and sandwich with fresh bread; as we roll out the menu it will offer a unique alternative to the choices we currently have without trying to reinvent the wheel as they say. It’s good to have variety.”
Originally Sweet Mary’s Cafe was due to open June first, but this date was set before Brazier was aware that the health department was going through a transition. The original plan reviewer was retiring and two people are being trained which has led to many delays. She stated, “I definitely would have planned differently if I knew, but we are moving along. I was just able to get them out here Tuesday. There was a couple of small changes that need to be made but nothing major and I’m waiting right now for a phone call letting me know if they are coming back Tuesday. I can open up the very next day once they give me the okay. I feel really guilty that this being dragged out as long as it has. Everyone has been so excited and very supportive.”
Why is it called Sweet Mary’s Cafe? Brazier explained, “The name was inspired by my grandmother, Mary. She is 92 and has been a huge part of life along the way. I thought it would be a good way to tell her thank you.”
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