There is possibly no institution as necessary and vital to a community as a truly great coffee shop. Fueled by warm ambiance and superior java, a good cafe creates a welcoming space for both customers on the move and those hoping to find refuge from the world in a coffee cup for a few hours. Partners in life and business Danny and Eleni Ehrisidis are bringing that precise energy to Ardmore this year when they open Brew Room, their latest joint endeavor.
The duo are bringing considerable experience to the coffee shop, set to open at 6 West Lancaster Avenue. Eleni Ehrsidis kindly made some time to explain to What Now Philadelphia the pair’s vision for Brew Room, and the circumstances that led to opening the cafe.
“My husband Danny has been in the restaurant business since he was 16 years old.” she states. “He’s been doing this for 30 years… he loves the food industry, he knows it very well. He loves the element of interacting with customers, building relationships, having repeat customers, building that trust and producing very high quality experiences for them. We’ve been talking about opening a business- like a cafe-for some time now and when we found this particular location in Ardmore, we knew we had to make it happen.”
The Ehrisidis are striving to create a comfortable and inclusive oasis for future customers. Eleni explains: “We are hoping this space is a fun, come-as-you-are type of space, welcoming anyone and everyone, from people coming with their families, coming from the gym, jumping on the subway…We are appealing to anyone who is looking for a great, specialty coffee.”
Brew Room is taking inspiration from its founders’ Greek roots, while carefully sourcing its resources from the neighboring community. “We’re taking pride in our bean selection.. partnering with local roasteries.” Eleni says. “We’re looking to have a Greek flare in our menu. The coffee culture in Greece is huge, people hang out in coffee shops all day long, they meet with their friends…we’re looking to bring in that European coffee culture here in Ardmore. We’re going to have plenty of seating, partnered with our menu of baked items.”
Speaking of the delicious bites the cafe will offer, Eleni states that Brew Room will pull from both American and Eastern European influences. “We’ll have continental baked goods, but also some Greek pastries, such as spanakopita. And we will also have a small hand-crafted selection of sandwiches, best served toasted as paninis. We also plan on having a couple of salads, snacks, and potentially desserts. We’ll have the full menu from coffee to breakfast to lunch.”
Eleni and Danny look forward to bringing a bit of Greek culture to a community they’ve developed a deep affection for. Eleni states: “We love Ardmore because of its walkability and urban feel. For a coffee shop, you’re really dependent on that exposure, and visibility. Ardmore’s culture is very welcoming, it feels like you fit right in, it has a lot of diversity and that shows up through different cuisines. It has a lot of students and a lot of families and a lot of other demographics, so it has everything. We love that it’s very residential- there’s so many people who live within walking distance and it has a lot of people who work there. The train station will be right next to us, so we’re hoping to help commuters grab their coffee and breakfast.”
Brew Room will also offer an impressive catering menu with customizable sandwich options.
The Ehrisidis are hoping to be open and ready to “bring in that Greek flare to Ardmore that does not exist” by the end of August. However, whenever the cafe opens its doors, it is certain to become an essential hangout for the local community. Eleni sums it up beautifully, stating: “We’re looking to create a very cozy environment…we are hoping for the Brew Room to become a neighborhood favorite. We are going to have a lot of natural wood, a modern concrete look floor, lots of white, lots of greenery and plants….a simple, modern, clean look. Not stuffy, not pretentious, comfortable, and contemporary.”
Follow along at the official Brew Room website for updates.
