Water Avenue is across the river – Southeast Portland as it is known. We choose this spot over three years ago as the location to re-locate the Bellissimo offices as well as house the American Barista & Coffee School.
Many in Portland know that some of the newest & hippest eateries are in this quadrant of the city… as well as it is home to many designers/innovative businesses/architects/coffeebars and the like.
We love this part of town. Many visitors tell us it has that New York vibe – not the Manhattan New York – but the other side of the river NY – say Brooklyn.
In coffee alone – S.E. is home to Fresh Cup, Barista and Roast Magazines – all just down the road and Imbibe is across the hall. This might tell you something
A year ago when we were racking our brain to come up with a name – the name of our new coffee venture – we floated about 50 names by friends…while all along… the right name was on the street sign on the corner – Water Avenue.
It has been a long journey since then… putting this new business together. With partners Brandon Smyth and Matt Milletto – we know we have an unbeatable team when it comes to great coffee.
Finally last week the build out has begun – after months of design – waiting for equipment – permits and jumping through all the hoops one must jump in and through to start a business. The saws and drills are buzzen’.
The three of us know we will be staking our reputation and combined years of coffee on WAC. & we are not only ready but itching for the world to come see what we have been doing.
There will be so many aspects to WAC… that I will not even start – to touch on any of them in this entry – that will come later – but most likely if you are in the coffee industry you will likely hear about many of these elsewhere. News travels fast in this little family called specialty coffee.
Men are cutting metal and framing the walls – cabinet makers have our plans and are busy with woodwork. Electricians are in the space as are plumbers – Today alone the team working there numbered 8 from four different companies.
This addition will make the American Barista & Coffee School experience one unparalleled in coffee education anywhere. One can only imagine the impact of going from our amazing present 2000 sq. ft. facility – Now to almost 4000 square feet. Yes 4000 square feet housing almost every aspect coffee has to offer. We are all pretty excited about the possibility ahead of us.
Students will continue to be taught by our award winning baristas. And now… besides the class room – students can also learn in one of the coolest coffee house settings to be found anywhere. Many different / diverse and new coffee classes all taught under one roof. This will once again raise the bar of “real” coffee education in the new combined ABC/WAC location.
I almost forgot to mention that besides the award winning Clark-Lewis restaurant across the street – a very well known Portland Micro brewery will be opening on the next corner of Water Avenue. But the biggest news of all is our next door neighbor will be the most talked about new cool eatery in Portland – Bunk Sandwiches. No.2 location.
So WAC and BUNK will be opening about the same time and be neighbors – There has to be a T-shirt in there someplace.
