(Nov. 12, 2015) Following several months of behind-the-scenes work, Berlin Coffee House will celebrate the opening of its new “Maryland with Pride” section with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday at 5 p.m.
Owner Peggy Hagy said the idea came from Berlin Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells, who, in turn, gave a nod to Chis Plater, formerly an economic development director at the state level.
Plater conceived of Maryland with Pride as an online directory that highlights products produced within designated Main Street sectors in the state.
“Like Uncle Jon’s Soaps,” Wells said, referring to the Berlin-based store. “He makes his soap on Main Street – how cool would it be to have his soap sold on other main streets in the state?”
In July, Hagy asked Wells for ideas to help liven up her shop on 17 Jefferson Street.
“I had said to Ivy, my numbers here are not what they were,” she said. “I’m really worried – have I hit a ceiling? What else can I do to bring people into the coffee house?”
The two spoke again following a merchant’s meeting near the end of July, when Wells floated the idea of opening a Maryland with Pride “pop-up” shop inside the Berlin Coffee House.
“These companies can actually have a physical presence in Berlin as opposed to just being online,” Wells said. “This way I would also be helping one of my businesses. It just made sense.”
Wells and Plater put together a proposal and presented it to Hagy.
“She loved the idea. We went with it and we set up several meetings with me and Peggy and Chris to talk about it,” Wells said. “Now here we are, with a grand opening on Friday.”
To start, Berlin Coffee House will carry products by Mama Vida (sauces and salsa made with local crabmeat), Cathy’s Ginger (spices), Jill’s Jams, Mixes, & More, Otterbein Cookies, Sweet Cascades Chocolatier and Terressentials (all-natural beauty products).
As part of the initial promotional push, Hagy plans to hang a large banner advertising the products on the exterior of the store, as well as inside the shop.
“I’m not going to make a fortune selling this stuff, but the idea is to bring people in,” Hagy said.
Wells and Plater both plan to add a “media blitz” on behalf of Berlin Coffee House during the opening, and the Berlin Chamber of Commerce is also trying to generate customer traffic on its behalf.
If the new section is successful, Wells said it could become a blueprint for similar Maryland with Pride operations elsewhere in the state. She also gave a short presentation on the idea during a Maryland Main Street meeting on Tuesday, tying it into the “Make it to Main Street” program that promotes goods made within the state.
“I think this will add a whole new view of the Berlin Coffee House,” Wells said. “It’ll be the Make it to Main Street shop in the Berlin Coffee House, and it will be a destination for people to go, specifically to buy products that are made on the main streets of Maryland. It’s almost like [Hagy] has two shops now.”
Hagy said she’s optimistic of the new addition, adding, “I’ve got my fingers crossed.”
Berlin Coffee House is also part of the Maryland with Pride online directory. Other Berlin-area stores included in the directory are Coconut Gypsy Soap, Jeffery Auxer Designs, Chesapeake Farms, George’s Mixes, Salt Water Media, Maryland Wine Bar, Eastern Shore Kettle Korn, Real Raw Organics, Patti Backer, Cupcakes in Bloom, Burley Oak Brewing Company, Baked Dessert Cafe, j.j. Fish Studio, Bleached Butterfly Floral & Home Boutique and Henry Fine Arts.
For more information on Maryland with Pride, visit www.marylandwithpride.org.
For more information on Berlin Coffee House, call 410-629-1073 or search “Berlin Coffee House” on Facebook.
Owner Peggy Hagy said the idea came from Berlin Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells, who, in turn, gave a nod to Chis Plater, formerly an economic development director at the state level.
Plater conceived of Maryland with Pride as an online directory that highlights products produced within designated Main Street sectors in the state.
“Like Uncle Jon’s Soaps,” Wells said, referring to the Berlin-based store. “He makes his soap on Main Street – how cool would it be to have his soap sold on other main streets in the state?”
In July, Hagy asked Wells for ideas to help liven up her shop on 17 Jefferson Street.
“I had said to Ivy, my numbers here are not what they were,” she said. “I’m really worried – have I hit a ceiling? What else can I do to bring people into the coffee house?”
The two spoke again following a merchant’s meeting near the end of July, when Wells floated the idea of opening a Maryland with Pride “pop-up” shop inside the Berlin Coffee House.
“These companies can actually have a physical presence in Berlin as opposed to just being online,” Wells said. “This way I would also be helping one of my businesses. It just made sense.”
Wells and Plater put together a proposal and presented it to Hagy.
“She loved the idea. We went with it and we set up several meetings with me and Peggy and Chris to talk about it,” Wells said. “Now here we are, with a grand opening on Friday.”
To start, Berlin Coffee House will carry products by Mama Vida (sauces and salsa made with local crabmeat), Cathy’s Ginger (spices), Jill’s Jams, Mixes, & More, Otterbein Cookies, Sweet Cascades Chocolatier and Terressentials (all-natural beauty products).
As part of the initial promotional push, Hagy plans to hang a large banner advertising the products on the exterior of the store, as well as inside the shop.
“I’m not going to make a fortune selling this stuff, but the idea is to bring people in,” Hagy said.
Wells and Plater both plan to add a “media blitz” on behalf of Berlin Coffee House during the opening, and the Berlin Chamber of Commerce is also trying to generate customer traffic on its behalf.
If the new section is successful, Wells said it could become a blueprint for similar Maryland with Pride operations elsewhere in the state. She also gave a short presentation on the idea during a Maryland Main Street meeting on Tuesday, tying it into the “Make it to Main Street” program that promotes goods made within the state.
“I think this will add a whole new view of the Berlin Coffee House,” Wells said. “It’ll be the Make it to Main Street shop in the Berlin Coffee House, and it will be a destination for people to go, specifically to buy products that are made on the main streets of Maryland. It’s almost like [Hagy] has two shops now.”
Hagy said she’s optimistic of the new addition, adding, “I’ve got my fingers crossed.”
Berlin Coffee House is also part of the Maryland with Pride online directory. Other Berlin-area stores included in the directory are Coconut Gypsy Soap, Jeffery Auxer Designs, Chesapeake Farms, George’s Mixes, Salt Water Media, Maryland Wine Bar, Eastern Shore Kettle Korn, Real Raw Organics, Patti Backer, Cupcakes in Bloom, Burley Oak Brewing Company, Baked Dessert Cafe, j.j. Fish Studio, Bleached Butterfly Floral & Home Boutique and Henry Fine Arts.
For more information on Maryland with Pride, visit www.marylandwithpride.org.
For more information on Berlin Coffee House, call 410-629-1073 or search “Berlin Coffee House” on Facebook.