By Jack Jemsek

Chris Rollins always thought it would be nice to have a comfortable place to hang out in Pomeroy Village in the morning, somewhere to sip some fresh coffee and have a pastry. 

Chris and his wife Laura Cohen have lived in South Amherst for over 30 years and, in all that time, there has never been a coffee shop between downtown and Atkins Farms Country Market. According to Chris, “South Amherst really had nothing besides Atkins further south.” He had conversations with other business managers located in Pomeroy Village. “They convinced me that West Street Coffee & Tea (WSC&T) is what this part of town needed.”

The Back Story

Chris’s business concept began to take shape with the opportunity to lease the 450 West Street building in 2018. The building is a stand-alone “out” structure on the north end of the historic 460 West Street commercial property that hosts several businesses, including The Moan and Dove, El Comalito, Global Cuts, The Trading Post, Jazzercize at 116 Studio, The Lemon Bakery, Rise Church, Amherst MMA/NESF gym, and Amherst Extensions & Beauty Salon.  

The building was originally constructed by the 1st National Bank of Amherst in the 1970s, and later became a Fleet Bank location. Later, a computer sales and repair business, Dancer Computers, operated out of the building in 2002. But the building then sat vacant for years.  

Around 2018, and motivated by other Pomeroy Village business owners, Chris took on the challenge of renovating the building and opening Pomeroy Village’s first coffee shop.  

But then COVID hit, and things stopped, and building costs rose…

In 2022, Chris began again in earnest and slowly navigated the permitting and construction required to convert the building into a functioning café. “The biggest challenges of setting up were, number one, getting the permits, but more so getting the contractors to modify the building. To make the location ADA-compliant, a new, larger restroom and a larger front door were built to enable wheelchair access. For this particular building, it was a truly challenging project.“

Coffee Talk

Chris says that what sets their coffee shop apart from others is “our Fogbuster.” Fogbuster coffee is the super-dark roast brand from Pierce Brothers Coffee, now Fogbuster Coffee Works, which uses an air-roasting technique to produce premium, bold coffees that are rich and not bitter. It’s certified organic, Fair Trade, and locally roasted in Greenfield, MA.  

Chris states they offer a standard array of every brew imaginable, from hot to iced coffees, and from standard drip to espresso. “To complement the coffee,” Chris said, “we have every possible variety of milk and non-dairy milk on hand.” 

Besides the coffees and regular hot teas, they offer hot and iced chai lattés, as well as a variety of herbal teas. Currently, the cafe serves a cardamom rose chai that uses an all-natural concentrate from Dona Chai in Brooklyn, NY.  

Locally-Sourced Lite Fare

To satisfy the breakfast, lunch, and snack cravings that accompany the coffee and tea, Chris provides an array of classic egg sandwiches and pastries.  As is the case for most items at West Street Coffee & Tea, the eggs are locally sourced from nearby farms. 

The cafe has the good fortune of being located right across the parking lot from the Lemon Bakery. Lemon Bakery baked goods are made from scratch using locally sourced ingredients.  A glass display case at the front counter of the West Street Coffee & Tea cafe features a selection of Lemon Bakery pastries. Fresh, sweet, and savory croissants, tarts, muffins, scones, quiche and quick breads may be available, depending on the daily menu.

That Colorful Cozy Atmosphere

The vibe of WSC&T is chill to say the least. Some of the half dozen tables in the cafe are antiques from the near-by Trading Post vintage store.  

The atmosphere is enhanced by numerous colorful, original paintings by Chris’s wife, Laura Cohen, many of which are available for purchase. You may find fresh flowers on your table, if not in the planters on the exterior. There are interesting curiosities on the shelves, featuring books on art, history, transportation, and more.  

If you don’t have your earbuds in, you can listen to their tunes. Chris’s favorite is to fill the cafe with vintage jazz tunes and other genres from his extensive CD collection. He also admits that he’s partial to tuning into the Saturday morning polka show on WMUA. 

Creating a Community Space

People are still discovering West Street Coffee & Tea.  Chris expressed, “I’m actively meeting new faces and getting to know people that I otherwise wouldn’t bump into around South Amherst. I’m taking some satisfaction in creating a community place here.”  

Chris looks forward to seeing the regulars stop. You’ll see friends gathering to catch up, or someone with a half hour to kill while waiting for an appointment. Some come in for their coffee break, dropping in from the nearby gymnastics center, the yoga studio, and other businesses located in the Pomeroy Village Center. Chris said that some Hampshire College folks have stopped by and said, “Oh, we’re so glad this is here.” 

What’s Next?

When asked if they had any plans for events or expansions in the future, Chris mentioned that they might start hosting “pop-up” events in the generous parking area surrounding the cafe’s building. “Such an event may be super-sized into the first ever Pomeroy Village Center block party,” said Chris, involving the other fine food and restaurant establishments nearby, like the Lemon Bakery, El Comalito, Mission Cantina, and Sibies. Chris said, “I have always wanted some kind of South Amherst fest thing for years, and why not focus on Pomeroy Village, to show off the road work, rotary, and sidewalks that the Town has invested in.”

West Street Coffee & Tea offers gift certificates, mugs, and bags of Fogbuster coffee for sale. Hours of operation are 7:00 am–1:30 pm Monday through Friday and 7:00 am-2:00 pm Saturday. The cafe is closed on Sundays and federal holidays.

Visit their Facebook page West Street Coffee & Tea, and Instagram @weststreet_coffee