The bad news is that after 19 years, the doors are shutting at Esquires Coffee House in Murrayville.
But the good news is that the closure is only temporary — five days in fact — and when the doors re-open next week on Oct. 17, it will be under the banner of The Joy of Coffee.
“We have wanted to go on our own for years,” said Joy Corrado, who has owned and operated the popular coffee house with her husband Ron since it first opened.
The coffee shop was in a different location for the first five years before moving to its current locale when the Murrayville Square opened.
“Our sales tripled (after we moved there). The best thing we ever did was move to this location,” Corrado said. “It has been fantastic.”
But with their lease up in May, the Corrados approached Esquires head office — which holds the lease — and told them of their desire to go independent.
“We have wanted to go on our own for years,” Corrado said. “It has been our dream.”
“We know everybody here, it is a great community. We love the people, we love the business and we have a huge passion for it.”
This is the first business they have run.
They will close their doors on Sunday (Oct. 12) to let the contractors get to work on the inside.
“Nothing is changed on our menu, we are just changing our look, renovating our store,” she said, adding that there will be a darker decor and “more warmth.”
One new addition will be a community table, which seats eight, and is available for reservation.
“We have so many people come in and sit in groups, so we decided to bring in a community table, which is a popular thing now that goes on in coffee houses,” Corrado said.
The fireplace and couch will remain in the corner of the coffee shop.
The new name for their store, The Joy of Coffee, was actually a suggestion from a regular customer.
“We both really liked that, it will be come in and experience the joy of coffee,” she said.
Business had slowed in recent years, but Corrado said it seems to be picking up once again.
“People get to know people in here. That is another fun thing about it, it is a very social thing. People very often get to know other customers,” she said.
“It is amazing to watch, and really a wonderful business.”
The store will re-open on Oct. 17 and they will hold a grand re-opening at a later date, once all of the work is completed.
They will continue to honour people’s Esquires gift cards.
“It is going to be bigger and better and beautiful,” Corrado said.