The shop, a initial in New England, is approaching to open this spring.
NATICK – The initial Sweetwaters Coffee Tea authorization in New England is entrance to downtown, even yet some merchants aren’t anxious that another coffee emporium could eat into their profits.
Audrey Sterling, owners of Java’s in Natick Center for 22 years, pronounced there’s already too many places downtown to squeeze a crater of coffee.
“Oh God, no,” was Sterling’s response when asked if Sweetwaters going into a empty space during 19 South Main St. is a good pierce for Natick. She pronounced it’s astray that a city is bringing in another coffee shop.
The father-and-son group of Gregory Pope and Gregory Jr. wish to open Sweetwaters this spring.
The Popes were sole on Natick after attending a farmers marketplace on a Natick Common final summer, desiring those business would travel opposite a travel to buy a libation during their shop.
“We fell in adore with (Natick),” Pope Jr. pronounced of that day. “This has Sweetwaters created all over it.”
The Planning Board sealed off on Sweetwaters when it voted unanimously to approve a change of use for a roughly 2,000 block feet of space from sell to a restaurant.
Pope Jr. concurred there’s “unavoidable competition” with other coffee establishments downtown, though pronounced Sweetwaters is opposite since it’s a coffee and tea house, while a others are also restaurants.
“There’s a poignant disproportion from a products we sell contra other coffee shops in Massachusetts,” Gregory Pope told a Planning Board. “We’re really most formed on genuine ingredients, healthy, high-end teas.”
One business that will be in foe with Sweetwaters is a Common Café Kitchen, located subsequent doorway during 9 South Main St.
Owner Azadeh Zadeh said, “I wish a best for (Sweetwaters),” though afterwards added, “We have adequate coffee shops.”
Sweetwaters’ business can design a 57-seat establishment. Hours have not been set, though Gregory Pope told a house they could be 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Popes pronounced they also wish their emporium to be a village end where city groups reason meetings and fundraisers.
With 40 locations in 12 states, Sweetwaters non-stop a initial store in 1993 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Wei and Lisa Bee founded a company, and chose Ann Arbor as a initial plcae since they graduated from a University of Michigan, according to a company’s website.
Of a locations, 13 are listed on a company’s website as “coming soon,” including Natick.
The authorization menu online includes sandwiches, salads, pastries and desserts. But a Natick plcae won’t offer those items, Gregory Pope told a Planning Board. There will be a tiny sell area that sells bags of coffee, he said.
Pope and his son have never owned a food or libation business. Gregory Pope, who lives in North Attleboro, worked in a word business for 30 years, while his son, who recently changed to Natick, worked in sales and afterwards attempted his palm during insurance.
The span always wanted to possess a area café, and visited a Sweetwaters domicile in Ann Arbor to learn some-more about a operation.
“We fell in adore with it,” Pope Jr. said, adding he and his father have a authorization permit to open a second Sweetwaters.
Pope Jr. is looking brazen to creation Sweetwaters a village destination.
“Once we enter (Sweetwaters), it will be a totally new thing entrance to New England. There’s zero like it,” Pope Jr. said.
Henry Schwan is a multimedia publisher for a Daily News. Follow Henry on Twitter @henrymetrowest. He can be reached during hschwan@wickedlocal.com or 508-626-3964.