The Wesleyan R.J. Julia Bookstore in Middletown, Conn., is partnering with Story and Soil Coffee to open a coffee shop inside the bookstore, the Middletown Press reported. The cafe and eatery will open on May 1; it will be the second location for Story and Soil, which has headquarters in Hartford, Conn.
Initially the coffee shop will serve a variety of hot and cold beverages, including coffee, tea and espresso, and a limited food menu. In June, the coffee shop will expand its food offerings to include flatbreads, breakfast burritos, salads and more. The cafe covers 2,000 square feet and has outdoor seating.
The Wesleyan store opened in 2017, and from May 2017 until December 2019 the bookstore partnered with the restaurant Grown. When it came to working with Story and Soil, R.J. Julia chief operating officer Lori Fazio told the Press that they were "looking for a partner that was going to be able to offer things that are appealing to students, as well as anyone who would come in."
Story and Soil made its debut in Hartford in 2017 and is owned by Michael Acosta and Michael and Sarah McCoy.