By day, the coffeehouse Burlap and Bean provides a spacious setting for the crowd seeking excellent java and light fare.
A few men hold a business meeting at one table. An overstuffed leather couch and chairs invite you to sink in with a book and relax. Nearby, a mother and her two children snack on muffins. A few casually dressed hipsters peck on their notebooks with private tunes in their earbuds. Art hangs on the walls. A look to the left reveals one-fourth of the space is actually two steps up – an elevated stage. At night, Burlap and Bean is considered a “listening room” – where live acoustic acts perform nightly.
This unique coffeehouse is part of the suburban renaissance happening throughout the area. Nestled into The Shops at Springton Pointe, a shopping center along Route 252 south of Newtown Square but north of the reservoir, has hosted some well-known musicians over the years, including Jeffrey Gaines, Jennifer Knapp and Mary Gauthier.
The coffeehouse is owned and operated by the Endicott brothers, Ben and Brent, and their respective wives Christi and Tara. Ben is the head roaster, Christi handles marketing, Tara books the musical acts and Brent works behind the scenes as the president. They’ve been open for five years.
First and foremost, Burlap and Bean is focused on quality coffee. They import coffee from about twelve countries.
“The beans are imported green and roasted on-site. All our beans are certified organic and certified fair trade. Everything we sell is 100% organic,” Christi explained on a recent morning.
Ben and Brent roast all the coffee beans on-site. The roaster actually sits on display in a corner of the coffeehouse for all to see. In addition to roasting coffee for the cafe, Burlap and Bean sells bagged beans to other shops including Whole Foods.
At the coffeehouse, the light fare is supplied by local sources. Sandwiches and wraps are made by the restaurant House in Media. They offer small bites and sandwiches. The art on the wall changes monthly. In January, they are featuring photos that tell the story of Habitat for Humanity. Often the artwork on the walls is available for sale. They also recycle their burlap sacks, selling them to folks who garden or let their kids use the sacks for potato sack races.
“We’ve become a community spot, a destination,” Christi said. “We have free wifi, people come during the day and work here.” She showed me the shelves in the back with a small sign that reads leave a book and take a book. “We have a bridge group that meets here regularly.”
Tara stopped by and chatted about the musical acts. “We often have the same acts that Philly venues such as the Tin Angel or World Cafe would book.” In February, upcoming acts include Charlie Phillips, Grey Reverend, Belfast Connection and Lucy Wainwright Roche. They also host Open Mic nights on Thursdays. Tickets range from $8 to $25 for a performance.
Burlap and Bean is located at The Shops at Springton Pointe, 204 South Newtown Street Road in Newtown, Square, PA. The shop is reachable by phone at 484-427-4547. Check out their full schedule of events at burlapandbean.com.
Photographs courtesy of Jim Breslin, Jeff Wojtaszek and Burlap and Bean.
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