Archive: Business & Technology

Gimme CoffeeNot long ago a sign went up in the window of the closed coffee shop next to the Rogues Harbor Inn that simply said, 'Reopening Soon as Gimme! Coffee.'  East Shore Coffee House had been run by Eileen Stout, who owns and runs the inn. Reportedly it only took about two seconds before Lansing coffee aficionados antennae went up, and those who mourned the demise of the old shop cheered up considerably at the prospect of not just any coffee shop, but a Gimme coming to Lansing.

"It will be a company-owned Gimme Coffee retail operation with our concentration on top-quality espresso drinks, brewed coffee, and whole beans for home brewing," says Gimme founder and CEO Kevin Cuddeback.  "We'll have light pastries of course, some cookies, and probably some bottled beverages.  In all, quite similar to what you'd find at Cayuga Street or in Trumansburg."

Store manager Jeff Lapennas has already been busy preparing the store for a 'soft opening' around the beginning of November.  Lapennas comes from the Cayuga Street location in Ithaca.  With a half dozen current locations Gimme Coffee is on the cusp of becoming a national chain.  But the Lansing store is different in that all the other shops are in walk-around communities as distinct from Lansing's spread-out character.  But Cuddeback sees that as an opportunity.


"Eileen contacted us a few years ago when she was starting up East Shore Coffee House," Cuddeback says.  "She purchased her espresso machine and grinder from us and served Gimme Coffee to her customers.  When she made the decision to cease operations, she notified us out of courtesy and indicated that she'd be interested in selling her espresso equipment.  I went out and took a look and became mildly enchanted with the cafe:  it has ample drive-by traffic, plenty of seating, and a nice back patio for outdoor seating."

The location is steeped in history, and has been part of Lansing's town center more than once.  Some town officials and residents alike think the area around the T-intersection will become a town center again as the growing town attracts new business.  A coffee shop where people can gather and meet certainly fits the profile of an establishment you would want in the center of town.  Cuddeback says the company expects a mix of sit-down and to-go business.

"The building is on a main route with plenty of parking in the back," he says.  "So whether people are wanting to swing in quickly for coffee to-go, or want to sit for an hour using the Lightlink hot spot, we're happy to serve anyone who walks through the door.  Given available square footage for café tables and chairs, I'm hopeful that the people of the neighborhood will rediscover it as an attractive place to pass time and meet friends."

The shop will bring three or four employees to Lansing, and will be open from 7am and 7pm, 7 days per week.  While entertainment isn't part of the plan for now, the company has consulted with musicians who have played in the space in the past, and doesn't rule out live music in the future.

Cuddeback says he is excited to open in the Lansing location.  "I'm excited to build upon the good business foundation that was established under Eileen," he says.  "The building has lots of character and the location is terrific.  It has been awhile since we opened a new location locally, and Gimme Coffee is in a much different place now than it was 3 years ago."

While there are still empty retail spaces in the immediate area, it is shaping up to be a central focus in the town.  Stout runs a successful steak and ale restaurant, a pub, and a bed and breakfast business in the inn, which was built in 1930 when South Lansing was known as Libertyville.  Rumors of an expansion to the Pit Stop have been floating around for at least a few years, and Gene's Machines and the Cinnamon Shop fill out the area.  The Lakebreeze is a stone's throw away as is Lansing Chiropractic Office, and the completion of the Lansing Community Library Center has put a nice touch on a town square just down the road that includes the Town Hall, Community Center, the historic Field schoolhouse, town records building, and ball fields.

The coffee house has been many things over the years, including an antiques store, a jewelry store, and the East Shore Coffee House.  Gimme will be adding the next chapter to the area's history.  "When I stare at the traffic flowing through the intersection of 34 and 34B, I can't fathom WHERE all the people are coming from," Cuddeback says.  "We certainly have plans to attract local people and people from the outskirts, in particular: the more the merrier."

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