New Shop Shakes Up Downtown Coffee Shop Scene by Diana Fleisher Great improvements are in the works on College Street with the opening of a new coffee house, The Café at Oberlin Music, and developments at The Feve and The Foxgrape Café. Conservatory students may already know about the cozy loft space on the third floor over John Cole Accounting at 13 South Main. Since September, owner and ’86 Oberlin graduate Jim Dawson has supplied classical scores to Conservatory students including vocal, piano, cello, violin, viola and study scores. They are one of the few retailers specializing in organ scores in the country. After graduating, Dawson moved to Tokyo where he taught organ and began selling scores to students. On returning to the U.S., he wanted to combine his work with students with running a coffeehouse. Dawson’s aim is to fulfill two local needs, supplying and attracting musicians with a knowledgeable retailer and providing a comfortable, gourmet coffeehouse. Serving gourmet fair-trade coffees, whole bean coffees, organic dairy and locally baked goods, the coffee house will compete with its neighbors, The Feve and Java Zone. With communal tables, as well as more intimate tables overlooking Main Street, the new cafe has an urban feel its competitors lack. Shelves of scores, musical instrument and accessories, as well as a growing collection of CDs fill the back of the renovated loft. The Oberlin Bookstore has stopped carrying these items. There is also a secluded reading area, set back from the café with couches and chairs. =Dawson has big plans for the new café. The floor space in the back is perfect for small performances such as chamber music groups. The cast party for Le Pouvoir d’Amour was held at the café and other events are scheduled. The hope is that this tucked-away café will gain popularity by word of mouth, but remain a quiet relaxing hideaway on Main Street. The other downtown cafes have also taken some new steps to improve business. For instance, The Fox Grape hopes to keep customers up-to-date about new offerings with a newsletter and website. The staff has begun working with director of Hammer Wine Company and certified wine educator Gary Twining to give classes in wine and beer tastings. Classes have been held since the beginning of February on Spanish, Portuguese, Australian and California wines, as well as wine components. A class entirely dedicated to Australian wines is scheduled for March 11. The Foxgrape is planning future events with musical and literary performances. They also cater and deliver. The Feve has undergone minor changes in the past year, but will begin major changes this week. With May 20 marking its 10-year anniversary, The Feve is using new menus and installing a second computer terminal to speed service. Other improvements include reduced coffee prices in larger mugs. Jason Adelman, the owner, believes that the recent downturn in businesses is settling into a routine and hopes that these changes will give customers a sense that The Feve is constantly trying to meet their needs in new ways. These renovations seem to be driven by a communal sense to improve downtown, rather than by competition. A town study conducted a few years ago suggested that top floor businesses could improve the town’s growth. The towering brick loft at Oberlin Music is an ideal setting for such a business. This suggestion is one of many that the Oberlin Design Initiative (ODI) is working with to help downtown business improve. “More shopper intercept surveys [on street corners] have been done this semester, for more downtown revitalization and less movement into urban sprawl and big box development,” first-year Rachel Auerbach said of the ODI. Dawson sees the Café as a way of fostering the town economy. “I hope to draw in musicians from Cleveland, give them an incentive [to come to Oberlin], and get to know them while they’re here. They can then go eat at the Black River Cafe or visit The Gingko Gallery.” Dawson received a lot of support from the Oberlin Bookstore and hopes to give back to the community. Generally, all three businesses are not feeling a competitive squeeze. Business at the Feve Bar increased last semester and each of the owners is trying to create a new environment out of established parts of the Oberlin economy.

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