I bought a hat I didn't need.

I bought a hat I didn't need.

My favorite local coffee shop (and crepe place!) celebrated their two year anniversary this weekend. I bought a hat to celebrate. 🥳

Do I “need” a new baseball cap (in a fabulous color that looks great on me 😉)? No.

But I love everything about this spot, and I am committing to doing what I can to keep them in business.

Before they opened, a number of different spots came and went in this location, and they were never open for long. It always baffled me - the location is mere steps away from a park where droves of people come to walk their dogs every morning. I remember saying to my husband, I don’t understand why these folks don’t set up a table at the park once a week or invite people in for pup cups or really anything to get the dog folks.

And then Pando’s opened, and their opening weekend they had a whole table in the park with treats for dogs, free coffee for humans, and a general joy and welcoming feeling that we had not experienced previously.

Are they best, most fanciest coffee or food in the neighborhood? Probably not, but they are the space that feels the most committed to building community through their business.

The owners greet everyone with warmth and welcoming energy, and they seem to prioritize hiring folks that do the same.

If they make a mistake, they are so fast and kind about making it right - my kiddo has a favorite crepe order, and they have been known to remake her crepe from scratch if it wasn’t quite right.

At the anniversary party, both owners greeted me with a hug, asked about my family, and shared stories about their recent trip to Puerto Rico. I congratulated them on building their business to the point that they trust their team to run the business in their absence.

Two years might seems like “not that many years” to celebrate, but it’s quite a long time for a restaurant in this spot.

So I will keep visiting them and buying a coffee every now and then, even if I don’t “need” it, and saying yes to my kiddo pretty much every time she wants to eat there.

I’m always happy to spend my money to support a small business, particularly one so committed to building a warm, welcoming space in our community.

What's a spot you'd go out of your way to keep alive?