PennyCup Coffee opens downtown in the YMI Building

NEW CUP: The newest iteration of PennyCup Coffee Co. is a full-service café in downtown's YMI Building. Co-owner Amber Arthur says future plans for the space may include late-night events and possible efforts to revive the historic neighborhood's once-thriving jazz scene. Photo courtesy of PennyCup Coffee Co.

Just shy of seven months after opening its first tasting room on Depot Street, local small-batch coffee roaster PennyCup Coffee Co. has expanded to downtown. The new café at 39 S. Market St. in the historic YMI Building welcomed its first customers on New Year’s Day.

Owners Bill Tanner and Amber Arthur have partnered with Matthew Burd for this most recent venture. “Bill and I at PennyCup have known Matt for awhile, and we knew that we definitely wanted to partner up with him as he is, in our opinion, one of the best coffee people in town,” says Arthur, adding “I’m a big fan of having business partners. I think it’s more fun, and I think it gives everyone more flexibility to pursue other things in their lives that they love.”  Arthur also co-owns BattleCat Coffee and Mountain Mojo with business partner Catie Conroy.

“We started talking, and we knew we wanted to do a shop, and we have just been exploring for the past year where that shop would be, and I just drove by one day and had a feeling,” remarks Arthur in response to questions about the new location.

“We found this place three months ago, signed the lease two and a half months ago, and we were here 24-seven getting it ready, basically,” says Burd.

“After we found the spot and signed the lease is when we started to discover how many apartment buildings are going to be here,” adds Arthur. “We have affordable housing going across the street and another apartment complex going on our side of the street; so it will be great. We will have a lot of locals living right here that we can service.”

PennyCup Coffee at the YMI is operating as a full-service café, complete with house-made pastries, bagel sandwiches, freshly prepared hummus and tapenade, and additional fare. Burd recommends the classic lox bagel and the Greek turkey bagel.

Freshly roasted, by-the-pound coffee is also up for grabs at the Market Street location. “You’re gonna come in and you’re gonna get a coffee that was roasted a couple of days ago a mile and a half away,” says Arthur.

When asked about their ultimate plans for the space, Arthur says, “We have a vision over here for being open later at night and possibly resurrecting the jazz scene that used to exist on this street. We are going to have a beautiful courtyard in the back and have a wine and beer selection.”

Through the end of the month, first-time customers can come in for a free cookie or a homemade doughnut with the purchase of a beverage or can receive $2 off any signature sandwich.

PennyCup Coffee at the YMI is at 39 S. Market St., Suite D. Hours are 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday  

 

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About Jacqui Castle
Jacqui Castle is a freelance writer who began contributing to Mountain Xpress in 2014. When she is not writing, she is living it up in the Fairview mountains with her family of four.

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One thought on “PennyCup Coffee opens downtown in the YMI Building

  1. boatrocker

    If only resurrecting a jazz scene that used to happen where you are involved just bribing the musicians with coffee and appetizers.

    There’s always paying musicians. Oh no, I said it.

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