Coffee shop to fill space left formerly occupied by long-time men's shop

Just in case you're worried about running out of places to score caffeine uptown, a local woman and her husband are hard at work putting a new coffee shop in the vacant South Court Street storefront that once held Baron Men's Shop.

"œThis is my encore career," explained Debby Fulks, who has worked as a dental hygienist for the Athens City/County Health Department for years, and is planning partial retirement.

Fulks and her husband, Chuck Larimer, a former teacher for Alexander Local Schools, have been working with a crew over the summer to turn the old Baron's site into Court Street Coffee.

"Our focus is going to be coffee and grab-and-go food "“ muffins and bagels and scones and things like that," Fulks said.

Though work on the interior is still underway, Fulks said she would like to have the place open by the time Ohio University resumes its fall quarter classes (which begin Sept. 8). "We're hoping to beat the students back, is all I can say," she said.

Court Street Coffee will be connected to the Columbus-based Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea company, which has helped entrepreneurs open coffee shops around the country, including many in Ohio.

Founded in 1991, the company roasts and packages coffee, and teaches business owners "how to be successful in specialty coffee," according to its Web site. Coffee shops affiliated with Crimson Cup aren't part of a franchise; instead, the company mentors the business owners, and the shop agrees to buy its coffee from Crimson Cup.

"They're very supportive," Fulks reported. "And really their focus is on having your coffee shop be a part of your community; that's why they're not a franchise."

Specialty coffee stores abound in the uptown area, including Perk's, Donkey Coffee, the Baker Center Front Room and Brennan's. Fulks said she believes there's a niche for a new one, however.

"We're going to be different," she promised. "Yeah, I think there's room for us."

Attractions the shop will offer, she said, will include an on-site wireless Internet signal, a store that's open seven days a week, and really quick service. And of course, the steaming stimulus package in a cup.

"It's going to be a great cup of coffee, and it's going to be quickly served," she vowed. "With the equipment we're getting, we'll have a cup of coffee poured and in your hand in like 35 seconds, 40 seconds."

An added attraction is that Little Professor Book Center, with its extensive selection of newspapers, magazines and books, is right next door.