The smell of roasted coffee beans. The humming of cappuccino machines. Echoes of chatter and acoustic music.
Coffee shops have become know as social venues due to the warm and comfortable environment they produce. Many people go to their local coffeehouses to take advantage of free Wi-Fi and cozy sofas. Those who are looking for a quieter, more productive space ― well, this Norfolk coffeehouse may have the cure.
Cure Coffeehouse and Brasserie, located on 503 Botetourt St., serves regional coffee, handmade sandwiches and snacks and craft beers both local and foreign. What sets them apart from other cafes is their subscription service known as Cure and Co.
Cure and Co. allows customers of Cure Coffeehouse to take advantage of a semi-private office space that is attached to the cafe for either a monthly or daily fee. For $125 a month, customers have access to an office space, unlimited drip coffee and tea, their own Wi-Fi and printing access.
“It’s good for those people who are trying to run a startup or have a lot of work to do and don’t want to rent out a full office, but still want to have that coffee shop feel,” said Kari Redman, the general manager of Cure Coffeehouse.
Cure and Co. customers can even move up to a $175 monthly subscription which allows them to bring a guest and even use the office space as a mailing address.
“I’ve used it for my office for a little bit and it’s quite nice. It’s really good for productivity,” Redman said.
College students have no need to worry, though. Cure and Co. offers limited day passes to their office space for just $10. This payment comes with unlimited free drip coffee, tea and dedicated Wi-Fi.
“Cure and Co. is a great hub to get creative juices flowing and for students to study their hearts out,” Redman said.
Coffee shops are known for their social, yet productive environments, but Cure Coffeehouse sets itself apart with their innovation. The idea of Cure and Co. came about from the coffee shop’s two owners who happen to be ODU graduates.
They took advantage of the popularity of coffee shops among young adults and merged it with the need for start-up hubs by the millennial generation, according to Redman.
So what’s next for Cure Coffeehouse?
“We’re all about innovating and asking ourselves: what can we do next? What else is out there?,” Redman said.
The coffee shop’s owners are still in the process of expanding their brand. According to Redman, they’re looking at the shop’s responses and figuring out how and where they can grow.
One thing Redman would like to see is an expansion of their already thriving learning environment. She thinks classes on coffee making would make for a great addition.
“It’s [Cure Coffeehouse] so malleable. It grows with us as we grow. As we get suggestions, we take them all to heart,” Redman said.
Justin Smith
jrsmith2@vwc.edu
(Photo: Kari Redman|Courtesy)
