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Hira Qureshi | Cherry Hill Courier-Post | March 10 2021

Coffee shop regulars, baristas and owners want their third space back after a year of COVID

At Evermore Coffee Roasters in Burlington, New Jersey, Lauren and Ryan Vaxmonsky have adapted to fit the new normal but have kept the ambiance alive. The Vaxmonskys created “The Office at Evermore” concept where guests could reserve a time online, pay a small hourly fee and sit inside to work, with internet and printer access available. Spaces are cleaned between each guest.

“That's something that has really helped us to kind of sustain the financial impacts,” Lauren said. They came up with this service as restaurants were reopening for indoor dining, something they felt they could not fully do in a cafe setting.

One of the couple’s goals for the shop when they opened in 2017, was “creating exceptional, unforgettable experiences through art and science.”Pre-pandemic guests were served items like single-origin coffee in little decanters where they could pour a cup for themselves and read about the coffee on an information card.

Single-origin offerings at Evermore Coffee Roasters provide guests with an interactive and educational experience.

“It kind of like made you somewhat part of that experience,'' Ryan said. "You can read the card about the coffee you're drinking — kind of like connected to where they [coffee beans] came from and to what you're enjoying in your cup.'' The shop had guests of all backgrounds, from students looking to study to moms stopping in for a quick recharge.

Bernadette and Joseph Renaud have been regulars for two years, visiting every weekend. The shop is special to the couple as they got engaged there. Joseph planned the engagement with the Vaxmonskys help. “Not only is it great and delicious coffee, but the owners, and the staff — they're just so kind and loving,” Bernadette said. “When you walk in, their attention is yours and they want to get to know their customers and they want to keep up with you and stuff.”

Pre-pandemic, the Renauds would chat with the Vaxmonskys and baristas while they waited for their order – "The Bee's Knees" latte for Bernadette and an Americano for Joseph – then head to the back and sit.

Although their orders are the same, their regular seating isn’t available. But Bernadette said the ambiance is still there with “The Office at Evermore.”

“It [the pandemic] hasn't really changed the experience of how great Evermore is, it just put a little twist on it,” Bernadette said. “We're gonna be safe, we're going to be cautious. I can't see their friendly smiles anymore, but we still have great conversations.”

Mary Winkelspecht joined Evermore Coffee in November of 2020, after getting laid off at another cafe. She found the Burlington shop after reserving a time slot for "The Office at Evermore." Starting as a new barista in a pandemic, Winkelspecht has found conversing with regulars for even just five minutes to be extra special during these times. "Chris — the customer — has told me this before, like, 'How do you actually remember my name though,' Winkelspecht said. "Well, because when we had a moment that just stuck in my head so now, it was important to me. I'm gonna make sure that you know the value of the time that you're in here for."

Winkelspecht hopes people looking for human interaction feel more comfortable supporting small businesses like Evermore as the pandemic ends. "The bigger businesses, of course, they're gonna last but we need to support the small ones that we love if we want them to be there for the future."