The last furniture store in Nanticoke, and one of the few remaining active businesses in Nanticoke, is going out of business.
Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice: Bartuska's Furniture closure leaves void in Nanticoke
This is a sad but almost inevitable development. As the owners note, it was hard enough selling moderately-priced American-made furniture when the major chain competitors are selling cheap junk from China. But in an economy where discretionary incomes have dropped to zero, where people don't even have the money to pay for the gas to go to their jobs (if they're lucky enough to have jobs), furniture purchases are not a priority.
Bartuska's closing will leave a major void on Main Street in Nanticoke. Two voids - they also own a warehouse across the street, though the city has announced plans to purchase that. In a slightly better economy this might be a prime opportunity for a new business to set up shop in the old building. (Bartuska's has an enormous room-sized elevator in the back for transporting furniture from one floor to the next - how cool is that?) But at this point I cannot envision anyone else opening a business downtown. I hope to be proved wrong.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
New business in Nanticoke: Coffee's Coffee!
WHAT:
Coffee's Coffee, a coffee shop and cafe in downtown Nanticoke, PA
WHERE:
71 East Main Street in Nanticoke
(the old location of McDonald's Newsstand, across the street from Luzerne County Community College's Health Sciences Center, formerly the Kanjorski Building)
WHEN:
Monday-Friday 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Nearly three years ago Nanticoke lost one of its oldest businesses when McDonald's Newsstand closed its doors. Since that time the building has been empty and closed, a sad reminder of better days that really weren't that much better.
A few months ago I became involved with an individual with a vision for a revitalized downtown Nanticoke. The centerpiece and cornerstone of his vision was the recent establishment of new educational centers from Luzerne County Community College: the Health Sciences Center on the corner of Main and Broadway (in the old Kanjorski Building) and the Joseph A. Paglianite Culinary Arts Institute located just two blocks away on the corner of Main and Nanticoke Avenue. These places were bringing students to the area, students who needed services provided to them and who, in turn, would do business with businesses providing those services.
The project was eventually put on the back burner for a variety of reasons, but I was inspired with my own vision: the old McDonald's Newsstand building would be a perfect location for a coffee shop designed to meet the needs of L.C.C.C. students looking to meet, grab a quick coffee, and check the internet before and between classes. For months I have dwelled on this vision, wondering what could be done to make it a reality.
It turns out that for the past two years, someone has been working to make this vision a reality.
Coffee's Coffee is the dreamchild of proprietor Kim Coffee. (Yes, that's her real name.) I was a little disappointed when I parked across the street and walked towards the building and noticed that the neon OPEN sign was no longer flashing like it had been a few hours earlier. I decided to take some photos anyway. Having a distressingly large man taking pictures of your business with a distressingly small camera tends to get a reaction - and the woman who was cleaning up for the day unlocked the door and motioned for me to come in.
We talked for a while, more than a while, and Kim Coffee showed me around the place. I was wrapped in double-vision with each step as I remembered the space as it was - dodging around a phantom counter that wasn't there anymore - and drank in the space as it is now.
Except for tidbits like the cast-iron radiator above, Coffee's Coffee doesn't bear much resemblance to the old newsstand. Having just opened a few days ago (a "soft opening;" the Grand Opening won't be until this coming Wednesday, March 21), everything is shiny and new, and there is a sense of anticipation and ambition about the place.
And beauty: this is a very beautiful place. There is something to see everywhere you turn, and as much as I tried to photograph every inch of the place, I am sure there are things I missed.
Of course, Coffee's Coffee a place of business, specifically there to sell you food and drink. So what do they have to offer?
In the breakfast and lunch departments, there are paninis, hot pressed grill sandwiches, and hot dogs, soup, and some breakfast things as well - egg on an English muffin, bagels, and tuna on a bagel.
Of course, there's a selection of coffees to choose from, along with espresso, cappuccino, latte, and chai ( a personal favorite), as well as green tea. (I've already been asked to relay a request for bubble tea, which is increasingly popular, though it hasn't reached the level of cupcakes and bacon yet.)
Then there are smoothies and frappes, too - it would take a while just to run the drinks menu!
A Dali-inspired clock is one of several throughout the cafe.
The smoothie, panini, hot dog, cappuccino, and espresso bar. Check out that woodwork!
There's also a self-serve coffee section in the back, near an expanded area for group gatherings. So now Nanticoke's bloggers, writers, and artists will have a place to hang out and share ideas!
And, of course, there is a wide selection of pastries!
Bouquets of flowers expressing well-wishes for the new business. The one on the right is from the City of Nanticoke!
The Coffee name is well-known throughout the region. Tragically, Kim's father was killed by a drunk driver several years ago (a drunk driver who was subsequently given an outrageously short sentence), and she has added many touches in his memory, including the fresh flowers at every table. Kim's father saw fresh flowers as the sign of a quality establishment; plastic flowers on a table were only dust collectors, and who wanted dust on their food?
Coffee's Coffee fills several needs that have existed in Nanticoke for a while. Its existence is a reason to have hope for the gradual rebirth of the city. I wish Kim and her staff the best of luck in their new endeavor, and may they do business as robust as their coffee!
Coffee's Coffee, a coffee shop and cafe in downtown Nanticoke, PA
WHERE:
71 East Main Street in Nanticoke
(the old location of McDonald's Newsstand, across the street from Luzerne County Community College's Health Sciences Center, formerly the Kanjorski Building)
WHEN:
Monday-Friday 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Nearly three years ago Nanticoke lost one of its oldest businesses when McDonald's Newsstand closed its doors. Since that time the building has been empty and closed, a sad reminder of better days that really weren't that much better.
A few months ago I became involved with an individual with a vision for a revitalized downtown Nanticoke. The centerpiece and cornerstone of his vision was the recent establishment of new educational centers from Luzerne County Community College: the Health Sciences Center on the corner of Main and Broadway (in the old Kanjorski Building) and the Joseph A. Paglianite Culinary Arts Institute located just two blocks away on the corner of Main and Nanticoke Avenue. These places were bringing students to the area, students who needed services provided to them and who, in turn, would do business with businesses providing those services.
The project was eventually put on the back burner for a variety of reasons, but I was inspired with my own vision: the old McDonald's Newsstand building would be a perfect location for a coffee shop designed to meet the needs of L.C.C.C. students looking to meet, grab a quick coffee, and check the internet before and between classes. For months I have dwelled on this vision, wondering what could be done to make it a reality.
It turns out that for the past two years, someone has been working to make this vision a reality.
Coffee's Coffee is the dreamchild of proprietor Kim Coffee. (Yes, that's her real name.) I was a little disappointed when I parked across the street and walked towards the building and noticed that the neon OPEN sign was no longer flashing like it had been a few hours earlier. I decided to take some photos anyway. Having a distressingly large man taking pictures of your business with a distressingly small camera tends to get a reaction - and the woman who was cleaning up for the day unlocked the door and motioned for me to come in.
 |
| Location, location, location: Directly across the street from the Luzerne County Community College Health Sciences Center, and a quick walk from the Joseph A. Paglianite Culinary Arts Institute |
We talked for a while, more than a while, and Kim Coffee showed me around the place. I was wrapped in double-vision with each step as I remembered the space as it was - dodging around a phantom counter that wasn't there anymore - and drank in the space as it is now.
 |
| Candy, a coat rack, and a jukebox! Notice the cast-iron radiator against the wall. |
Except for tidbits like the cast-iron radiator above, Coffee's Coffee doesn't bear much resemblance to the old newsstand. Having just opened a few days ago (a "soft opening;" the Grand Opening won't be until this coming Wednesday, March 21), everything is shiny and new, and there is a sense of anticipation and ambition about the place.
 |
| Get a load of that backsplash! |
And beauty: this is a very beautiful place. There is something to see everywhere you turn, and as much as I tried to photograph every inch of the place, I am sure there are things I missed.
 |
| Close-up of backsplash |
Of course, Coffee's Coffee a place of business, specifically there to sell you food and drink. So what do they have to offer?
 |
| Menu 1: Specializing in paninis, hot dogs, and soup |
In the breakfast and lunch departments, there are paninis, hot pressed grill sandwiches, and hot dogs, soup, and some breakfast things as well - egg on an English muffin, bagels, and tuna on a bagel.
 |
| Menu 2: Coffee and tea (and there are already requests for bubble tea!) |
Of course, there's a selection of coffees to choose from, along with espresso, cappuccino, latte, and chai ( a personal favorite), as well as green tea. (I've already been asked to relay a request for bubble tea, which is increasingly popular, though it hasn't reached the level of cupcakes and bacon yet.)
 |
| Menu 3: Smoothies and Frappes |
Then there are smoothies and frappes, too - it would take a while just to run the drinks menu!
 |
| The Persistence of Memory - or, Hello, Dali! |
A Dali-inspired clock is one of several throughout the cafe.
The smoothie, panini, hot dog, cappuccino, and espresso bar. Check out that woodwork!
 |
| The self-serve coffee section |
There's also a self-serve coffee section in the back, near an expanded area for group gatherings. So now Nanticoke's bloggers, writers, and artists will have a place to hang out and share ideas!
And, of course, there is a wide selection of pastries!
 |
| Spoon and Fork time |
Bouquets of flowers expressing well-wishes for the new business. The one on the right is from the City of Nanticoke!
 |
| Fresh flowers on every table in memory of Kim Coffee's father, Michael Coffee |
The Coffee name is well-known throughout the region. Tragically, Kim's father was killed by a drunk driver several years ago (a drunk driver who was subsequently given an outrageously short sentence), and she has added many touches in his memory, including the fresh flowers at every table. Kim's father saw fresh flowers as the sign of a quality establishment; plastic flowers on a table were only dust collectors, and who wanted dust on their food?
 |
| Close-up of clock table |
Coffee's Coffee fills several needs that have existed in Nanticoke for a while. Its existence is a reason to have hope for the gradual rebirth of the city. I wish Kim and her staff the best of luck in their new endeavor, and may they do business as robust as their coffee!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Stained glass windows and the passing of an old world
A while ago I was invited to give a presentation at the first-ever Pecha Kucha night in Scranton. I decided to create a presentation that combined my study of the stained glass windows of St. Mary's Church with some of my "The Churches of Nanticoke" project, along with commentary on church consolidation, closure, and demolition. You can see the images used in this presentation, and read a version of what I said, here:
Another Monkey: Against the Dying of the Light
Another Monkey: Against the Dying of the Light
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