For the month of August, we’ll visit independent businesses around St. Louis, specifically, ones that are new to us. Check back every week for a new edition.
There are afternoons that wear on you a bit, each errand needlessly energy-sapping. Even with the summer heat, the need for a hot cup of caffeine is sometimes the only solution to making it through the day. And when a coffeehouse miraculously appears on your route to find a locally owned business unknown to you, well, that’s the surest sign of a first-time visit.
On Saturday afternoon, Abode Coffee House (117 East Lockwood, 314-918-0611) was about done for the day, with just under half an hour remaining before the 5 p.m. closing bell. Assembled inside the room: a handful of customers, each of them quietly studying a laptop or book, and a barista, who was just about as reserved as her patrons. With the summer sun beating down, the patio seating area out front was empty—it’s a fun one, though, with interesting chairs and a nice, set-back view of Lockwood. Smartly, on this afternoon, everyone was scattered through the inner rooms of the Abode.
The space pretty much defines the look of a small, indie coffeehouse, with local artists represented on the walls, a fully stocked business-card dropbox, a variety of openly displayed pastries and calming music, this time in the form of Latin jazz. One gets the sense that people frequenting this place enjoy a steady dose of NPR, a good poetry chapbook, and an occasional visit to the Symphony.
Located directly between the bustling business districts of Old Orchard and Old Webster, Abode’s also just a few blocks from Webster University. The competition for the coffee dollar in this pocket of the County is strong, with Starbucks, Stratton’s, Einstein’s, and the Bread Company all located within a quick drive or bike ride away. It appears that Abode might be going for a vibe that’s different from the competition by offering an intimate place to sit and study, rather than the heavy social activity that’s often taking place at spots nearby.
Our visit was a mostly pleasant one, despite my genius move of emptying out a half-and-half container in a moment of over-exuberant pouring. These things happen when your internal caffeination isn’t right. Our zen-like barista was kind enough to take care of the mess quickly and the people sitting in the room were too decent to notice, scarcely bringing their glances up from their readings of the day; this despite my mid-to-loud, post-spill utterance of a word unfit for public usage.
If there was anything that was a mild bummer, it was that my to-the-brim cup came without the tea bag. True tea drinkers know that you can ease two, three, even four cups of a tea from a single bag. Especially on those afternoons when the need for caffeine is at an essential level.
As I work just down the block during the school season, I’ll have to go back to Abode for further investigations. In time, developing my own routine. Finding the best seat to both read and people-watch. Discovering the best way to ask for that tea bag. In time, it’ll all click and even the milk pours will be as smooth and innocuous as the cool jazz on the PA.
