Public service announcement for fans of Quills, which will be closed for a few days for the alley move.

Get ready.

Quills wants you to know the schedule as the coffee shop moves to a different portal in the same building.

"As you may have heard and seen, we are relocating our New Albany café to the back alley. With that, this is our last week of service in our current space, and we will be closing at 2pm on Sunday June 17th to begin tearing down the old bar. We will be re-opening in the garage the following Monday June 25. Swing by one last time(s) this week, and see you in the new space soon!"

A couple months ago.

Quills to have a new coffee roastery in Louisville.

Whither Quills' current New Albany space?

It stands to reason that if the roasting operation moves, there'll be room inside for an expansion of seating -- if this is desired.

Tech company, coffee roastery moving into historic NuLu firehouse, by Caitlin Bowling (Insider Louisville)

... Composable Systems will move into the top two floors of the three-story firehouse next month. Meanwhile, the first floor of the 123-year-old firehouse will be transformed into a coffee shop for Quills, and the building on Shelby Street will become Quills’ new roastery. It currently roasts its coffee in New Albany but is running out of space.

Must reading: "How Christianity Shapes Louisville's Coffee Culture," by Gabe Bullard.

Ever wonder why "Louisville's coffee scene has an undeniable undercurrent of Christianity that isn’t the case nationally"?

Gabe Bullard explains, in depth. While reading, I was reminded of various other implications of coffee, and Wolfgang Schivelbusch's thoughts on the matter in his book, Tastes of Paradise, as summarized in this e-notes excerpt.

Called “the Great Soberer,” coffee became a symbol of the emerging bourgeoisie, who were delighted by its stimulating effects. Conservatives blamed it for the deterioration of society and said it was dangerous.

Coffee came to Europe from the Arab world, and initially was known as the "wine of Islam." The simple observation that a caffeinated beverage differs from an alcoholic one suffices to explain how coffee became an instrument to advance tee-totalling, as opposed to intoxication -- not necessarily from religious motivations, but because sober workers would produce greater profits than drunk workers.

Obviously, these are not Bullard's considerations. Rather, he contributes substance to clarify innuendo, and as a coffee drinker and frequent patron of the Quills branch in New Albany, I appreciate the effort. I'm a pagan, fanatical, unbelieving atheistic threat to the established order ... and I've always felt welcome at Quills. This is as it should be.

How Christianity Shapes Louisville's Coffee Culture, by Gabe Bullard (WFPL)

... It’s unlikely the third wave of coffee would have skipped Louisville. Had Sunergos and Quills not brought it here, someone would have. Just like with Heine Brothers. Had Mays not brought better coffee to Louisville in 1994, Starbucks would have in 1999. But the market is driven by those who act first and act well. In the case of Louisville, with third wave coffee, it was devout Christians, driven by an interest in coffee and mandated by their faith to work as hard as possible.

Just when I needed it most ...

I stopped by Quills this morning for an espresso and continued venting of spleen. As I was preparing to depart, I saw owner Nathan Quillo in back, and sat down to chat. To make an hour's conversation short, it was very encouraging to hear some of his ideas. I feel better, so thanks, Nathan.

In spite of everything, and although it will strike some readers as unusual, I'm truly an optimist at heart. Each day I rise, sure that it'll be the great breakthrough day, when things finally will make sense and begin happening. By mid-afternoon, it usually appears as false hope, but that's okay. There's always tomorrow.

The tone deafness hereabouts sometimes becomes so very frustrating that my optimism is gone by the time I'm finished brushing my teeth. Sometimes we forget what we're fighting for. Sometimes, we run out of time.

But perhaps not yet. Maybe something can be salvaged yet. Thanks, Nathan. I needed that.

Quills Coffee: On the right side of New Albany street grid history.

Quills Coffee

October 24 update: My two-way street project and how you can help.

Re-energized UEA dusts off its checkbook, scatters largess.

While the UEA's unexpectedly bountiful checkbook is open, kindly permit me to reveal that economic development officials in Birdseye have pieced together a multi-dollar deal to lure NABC from New Albany to rural paradise by Cappuccino's sight.

Mass exodus to Birdseye; little people evacuate New Albany in search of cleanliness, lower educational standards.

Them relocated little people are going to need Regressive Pints, hence the town's heated courtship of yours truly. I'm not sure how much longer we can hold the line here. In fact, about $70K in grants and loans should do nicely to make us feel more welcome, and if the UEA's once again tapped out, can't we just bond some TIF or something like that? Isn't it time to reconsider NABC's Riverview Brewing Towers idea?

C'mon, people, is there anything more "quality of life" than craft beer? Room temperature sarsaparilla may have been enough for your great-grandfather, but he went out with the Charleston, Maalox and ordinance enforcement.

I shall submit NABC's terms via carrier pigeon, or Shirtless Marvin. You have been warned.

Quills among New Albany UEZ grant recipients; Collections were up 175 percent in UEZ last year, by Daniel Suddeath (N and T)

Over the past year, the New Albany Urban Enterprise Zone Association has handed out facade grants for 34 properties totaling more than $70,000.

A sizable chunk of that total was recently granted to Quills Coffee in order for the business to expand and remodel its Market Street location in downtown New Albany.

Quills garnered a $16,000 grant and also received an $8,000 loan from the UEZ.

One lovely fall afternoon in downtown New Albany.

I had beer sales-related stops to make in downtown New Albany yesterday, and decided on a coffee before lunch. Quills obliged with its newest creation, Thai No. 5. It's espresso with a twist, and you can read about it here.

Once seemingly cavernous, space at the future Exchange pub + kitchen gradually is being molded into an eatery showcase. The perimeter is being extended westward down Main Street, including the adjacent Feast BBQ, where I had lunch, and JR's Pub a few blocks away.

Speaking of JR's, something you should know: There'll be a benefit held at JR's for Ric Geoghegan on Sunday, November 11, from 12:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. I'm told that Ric, who so many people in New Albany know from his long tenure at Steinert's, is suffering from liver failure. I know we'll all be plotting ways to contribute.

Please join us in gathering Ric & Jojo's family and friends together to raise money to support them during Ric's illness and to support his recovery. We look forward to seeing you there!

Walking back home from JR's, I thought to duck into Billow for porch cigars, which led to a late afternoon interlude with English tea, and a chance meeting with our roving building commissioner, David Brewer, who's doing a fine job indeed.

Think about it: Downtown New Albany's options truly have proliferated in recent years, and perhaps it's too easy at times to focus on what still is needed (a lot) rather than to simply appreciate what we have on a lovely Indian Summer's day.

Quills grand opening is this Saturday, February 18.

I've borrowed this release from the Indiana Small Business Development Center, which included it in this morning's e-mailing. NABC is donating growlers to the general merriment, so consider stopping by and saying hello to the Quills crew on this special day.

DOWNTOWN NEW ALBANY COFFEE BOUTIQUE CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING


Quills Coffee Invites Public to Enjoy Local Goods


As one of the latest businesses to join the revitalization of downtown New Albany, Quills Coffee will be celebrating their Grand Opening on Saturday, February 18th. In addition to a morning (10am) ribbon-cutting ceremony, the event offers a day-long showcase of local food, beer, music, raffles and discounted coffee.


Occupying what was once "The Fair" Department Store at 137 Market St., Quills is a boutique coffee shop and roastery featuring artisan espresso, manually brewed coffee, and locally made pastries, chocolates and sandwiches.


Quills first opened five years ago in Louisville, Kentucky by brothers Nathan and Gabriel Quillo. The New Albany location is their second shop followed by a third recently opened on U of L's campus.


Opening Quills in New Albany was especially significant for the Quillos. Nathan says, "My brother and I grew up in New Albany so we're happy to join other local businesses in revitalizing downtown New Albany. We're excited to share our passion for coffee with our new neighbors in southern Indiana. We want to invite everyone to come see our new shop where we roast -and sell- all our own coffee and carefully craft each espresso drink."


Quills has been open in New Albany since early December but will officially celebrate on Saturday with a variety of events lasting until closing time at 8pm. All are welcome.


Quills Coffee NA is open from 7am - 8pm daily. Located at 137 E. Market St. directly across from The Grand.

Quills Coffee is open today, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The physical space is beautiful, and I'm delighted Quills is here in New Albany.

Quill's on Facebook

I know it, you know it, and the Quills ownership knows it: For Quills to become the "third space" option downtown New Albany so desperately needs, its hours of operation will have to extend further into the evening; the Baxter Avenue location is open until 10:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday (6:00 p.m. on Sunday). By contrast, in New Albany the hours will be 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., seven days a week.

My (and their) opinion is that they'll get there soon enough, and by mentioning it, I'm merely pointing to the obvious. We have numerous fine dining establishments downtown, but few (perhaps none?) offer an evening coffee option beyond the standard drip. Much to my regret, my own establishment does not. Also, a coffee shop like Quills can be a huge factor in training the next generation to look downtown; if this seems odd, consider the demographic inhabiting Coffee Crossing on the north side. Those too young or disinclined to hang out in bars find a home at coffee shops.

Later this morning, I'm heading to the newly minted New Albany Quills to sample the espresso, which remains the true test, sans milk, cream, sugar and all the other extraneous substances. Is Billow, the cigar dispensary next door, open mornings? I'm already seeing a decline in disposable income -- and I'm loving it.