Full disclosure, I love Brick Coffee Company. I am writing this from one of their small tables in the corner of the room. Also, I am a self-proclaimed "regular", here.

Sharing space with the SNC Norwood church on Floral Avenue in Norwood, Brick Coffee is one of the only coffee shops in Norwood, save Starbucks at Rookwood Pavilion and Starbucks inside the Kroger at Surry Square. Let me be clear, there is nothing, at all, wrong with Starbucks. They do a lot of good in this world but Brick Coffee offers something that I don't really find at the two Starbucks in Norwood. Community.

I first heard rumors of Brick Coffee shop from the pastor of SNC Norwood church, Rob Westerman, in the early Spring of 2016. Rob is an idea man. When he heard these graduating seniors, lead by Dan Smith, from Mount Vernon Nazarene University express interest in opening a coffee shop somewhere, anywhere, in order to help encourage community, he welcomed them with open arms knowing that Norwood could benefit. He gave them a wing of the church on the corner of Smith and Floral Ave and, from there, they have, now, been operational since mid December, 2016.

Places like these are vital to communities and it's important to support them. Like Deeper Roots Coffee in Oakley or Community Blend in Evanston, Brick Coffee is where friends meet up to play board games. It's where New City Presbyterian Church, sometimes, holds staff meetings. It's where Jenni Holthus, REALTOR®, meets many of her clients to help find them a home to live in. It's also where families walk from the Presidential District and beyond to sit and enjoy some great coffee or cocoa together. Walk in one of these places and you are bound to see someone you know, or stay there long enough and you are apt to meet someone. They are ripe with conversations from people from around the community and those outside of it. Not only do they foster a sense of belonging, they help bring in folks from other areas to the neighborhood. Floral Avenue is now, often, bustling with people coming and going.

Stop by Brick and say hello to one of the kind souls, Dan, Zach, Jenesis, Dey'veon or Nate, behind the counter as they navigate the fine line between running a business and promoting community in the great city of Norwood one drink at a time.

Check out their website, HERE

Daniel Kersey