The Story of Barista’s Coffee House
The sound of beans grinding and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the air. On any given day in Linwood, Baristas Coffee House is bustling. Barista’s has fast become part of the fabric of the community where people meet and gather to grab a cup of their favorite brew along with fresh made to order breakfast or lunch while meeting with friends, neighbors or business associates.
Barista’s Coffee House is the brainchild of Mark and Debbie Becker and was born on hard times. In 2007, the Northfield couple who where in their 50’s found themselves in a position where they needed to reinvent themselves. As the local and national economy sunk into a deep recession and after 26 years as a physical therapy administrator, Debbie was laid off.
For 15 years Mark owned and operated his own landscape design and Construction Company, but suddenly, within the same month Debbie got laid off and Marks phone stopped ringing. The economy was collapsing and they found themselves with no source of income.
Debbie and Mark loved a good cup of coffee though and had often spoke of owning a coffee house and what it would be like if they did. When they traveled, they sought out local independent coffee houses, “They always have the best coffee says Mark. This was the time for them to make their dream a reality. But they did not know about the business of coffee. So they attended seminars and trade shows to learn all they could about the nuances of the coffee industry, they said “Failure was not an option”.
Barista’s Coffee House opened in Galloway one year later. Debbie and Mark worked hard. They did all the necessary renovations themselves and worked 16-18 hour days. Debbie was also caring for her mom at the time, who had Alzheimer’s. It was an exhausting time,” recounts Debbie.
Six years ago, Barista’s Coffee House moved to Central Square, Linwood. This was a dream location for Mark and Debbie, one they had waited 6 years for. The space was originally an art gallery for 35 years and required major renovations. Debbie and Mark rolled up their sleeves once again and spent 5 months doing all the work themselves.
This was the first coffee house in Linwood and people were excited about it. Their first day open, they were extremely busy. Many of their Galloway customers followed them to Linwood. “We give a good quality product because that is what we expect when we go out, great service, presentation and taste,” says Debbie. “We both have the same expectations and vision for our business and that’s why it works.”
One of the most popular items on the menu is the Josephine, named after Debbie’s mom. .It is sautéed asparagus and onions with scrambled eggs served on a bagel. Debbie’s said her mother was the inspiration for her passion cooking. She had me in the kitchen at 10 years old. My mom ran the kitchen for bingo at our church, and you guessed it I was right there with her.
Barista’s Coffee House is a community gathering and meeting place in Linwood and serves a variety of customers including professionals, shoppers, young people, senior citizens and moms. “Barista’s Coffee House is a very social place,” says Mark. “It is the perfect place to network, meet with a friend or someone to discuss business ideas.”
“Time Stands Still at Barista’s” that is what it says on a very distinctive mural that hangs on the back wall. Those words are spot-on. When you visit Barista’s Coffee House, you can expect a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Debbie and Mark says “Great Coffee, Great Food and Great Friends is what Life is all about and nobody does it like Barista’s”.
So what are you waiting for? See you at Barista’s Coffee House!
