At most of the coffee shops we've visited I've had the opportunity to spend time with the owner chatting about the coffee business. Many of the owners share with me "twist of fate" circumstances, family history, a humorous incident, or an answered prayer that led them to open or take ownership of their coffee shop. Some of the owners have told me that in the day-to-day grind and busy-ness sometimes they forget what it is that first motivated them to get their business started.
Of all the coffee shop owners I've met there are two whose stories have been most inspirational. The first is Deirdre Kohler, owner of The Grove Tea and Coffee Shop (see June, 2011 post). The diagnosis of a brain tumor lit a fire under her to open a coffee shop, write a book, and finish her university degree. She checked off all three objectives and has since moved on to pursue other endeavors while enjoying life cancer free. The second is Lynda Davies, owner of Life With Lemons Coffee Shop, located at 278 Main Rd. in Walmer. Her cancer diagnosis in 2010 served as a wake-up call to start living life to the fullest. After years of treatment Lynda decided she was ready to start a coffee shop business the theme of which would revolve around the old adage, "When life throws you lemons make lemonade."
Lynda has fully embraced this theme in her shop from the name, Life With Lemons, to the whimsical lemon tree decor/color scheme to the staff's citrus inspired "uniforms" and, finally, to the shop's specialty beverage, homemade lemonade. A positive vibe emanates from every corner of the shop so that patrons can't help but feel cheerful and even energized just from walking through the door.
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| Meet the Owner and Waitstaff Mandisa, Lynda, Alicia |
Life With Lemons opened on August 5th of this year. The new shop's menu features breakfasts served all day, light lunches, cakes, and Urban Espress coffee. My cappuccino and Americano were outstanding, and were the perfect accompaniment for the lemon meringue I ordered. Some of the Crawlers indulged in the lemon bread which looked absolutely amazing. The waitstaff, Alicia and Mandisa, and the barista, Pinkie, served all of our food and beverages with high spirits and good humor.
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| Meet the Barista Pinkie |
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| The shop's luscious lemon bread |
Life with Lemons is conveniently located and has plenty of off-street parking. Seating for about 45 is available in the main dining room and the patio, plus there is extra seating in a special smokers' area. The shop's hours are Tues-Fri, 7:30 3, Sat and Sun, 8-2, closed on Monday. Check out Life With Lemons on the web: www.lifewithlemons.co.za or on Facebook.
PE residents....be sure to stop in to Life With Lemons and visit with Lynda and company....and if you're down-in-the-dumps because life is giving you lemons it's guaranteed that they'll turn that frown upside-down with some fresh homemade lemonade!!!
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| Inside dining room |
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| The patio |
So, Thursday, Sept 19, was an exciting day for the Crawlers in that it was our first ever surprise birthday celebration. Thanks to Heather Anderson and the Life With Lemons crew for putting together a 60th birthday party for Crawler Lee Rodwell. Her actual birthday isn't until the 27th, which made the whole surprise a lot easier to pull off. Also, the fact that Lee was running late because she was picking up her new car gave us all time to warm up our singing voices for a rousing chorus of "Happy Birthday." Needless to say, Lee was surprised by all of Thursday's other Crawlers, Margaret and Sandy Zoetmulder, Margaret and Arthur Marshall, Stella and Beryl Dawson, June Nash, Nomusa Nkomo, Leanne Waller, Nicolette Hijmans, Gail Darne, Beth Vieira, Heather Anderson, and first time Crawler Lynn Cameron.
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| Happy Birthday, Lee!!! |
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| This Week's Crawlers Beth, Gail, Margaret Z., Sandy, Arthur, Margaret M., Lee, Lynn, Heather, Nicolette, Leanne, June, Stella, Beryl, Nomusa |
While we celebrated Lee's 60th birthday we also talked about all the actual impending "birth days" of numerous Crawlers' children/grandchildren. It seems that at least one baby is due every month through April! Sandy, who was sitting at the table with us, is due any day now, and Beth's new grandson was born the morning after the Crawl!
Ultimately, the Sept 19 Crawl was truly a celebration of many lives......Lynda's, Lee's, all the new babies....in a perfect venue to celebrate! To take a quote from the Life With Lemons menu..... "I have come to give you life and life abundantly." John 10:10
~Thank you to Lynda and the Life With Lemons staff for taking part in our celebration
~Happy Birthday to Crawler Lee Rodwell - September 27
~Happy Birthday to Crawler Leanne Waller - Septmeber 28
~Happy Birthday to my nephew, Peter, in Edinboro, PA - September 30
~Congratulations to Crawler Angela and her husband, Carlos, on the birth of their son - September 20
Until next week,
Ellen
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| Birthday girls, Beth Sept 16) and Lee (Sept 27) |
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| Lee and Lynn |
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| Nomusa and Lee |
