Former employees, customers and artists gathered for a reunion at the Meeting Place on Market on Saturday.
Jacob Espinosa | The Lima News
LIMA — A local coffee shop is celebrating 20 years in business in downtown Lima with special events.
The latest event at the Meeting Place on Market saw employees, customers and artists from the shop’s history gathering to reminisce for a reunion.
“It was a lot of fun, and it’s been really great to see everybody,” co-founder Jennifer Brogee said. “I just didn’t realize how many people had memories from 2003 that are still coming in regularly, so it was neat. I guess my memory isn’t that good, or things kind of blur together. You realize how many people have been involved over the years, so I think that’s the most interesting thing and the most exciting thing.”
Manager Amy Terry, who has worked at the shop for 11 years, said that seeing the customers meant a lot to her.
“It’s been so fun,” Terry said. “I love working with the local shops, and just seeing the daily customers makes my day. Just to talk with them and have that community is amazing.”
Brogee added, “That’s why we do what we do. It keeps me going to know that we have that much support and people who have been supporting us for years. It’s incredibly heartening to me, especially after going through the COVID era.”
Terry said that she hopes everyone who stopped into the shop took away one thing from the day: a sense of community.
“It’s come a long way the last few years, but the fact that they started with nothing down here is amazing,” she said. “And people still want to come here even after that time.”
Brogee said, “I just think it’s good to stop and reflect. It helped me to realize how thankful I am for everyone. Sometimes you just keep working, and you don’t really stop to think what we’ve done and look back and remember the fun, crazy times.”
And for fans of the shop, there is still plenty to look forward to, even after the celebration is over.
“We’ll still do what we do, and we’re going to bring back more of the old menu items this year,” Brogee said. “We’re also really looking forward to renovating the second floor of the building, so we’re making plans for that with drawings already made. We’ve also already replaced the windows, plumbing and electrical, and we just need to now figure out how to finance the rest of it.”
Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399.
