A new coffee shop is planned for the former 10,000 Villages space at the northeast corner of Main Street and East Avenue.
Esref Cezzor is planning to open Kaahve, a coffee shop, at 96 Main St. (the former 10,000 Villages space) in about two months. Credit: Michael Dinan
Esref Cezzar told NewCanaanite.com that he plans to open ‘Kaahve’—that’s Turkish for ‘coffee’—in about two months at 96 Main St.
It will be “a friendly place where people come in for a little socializing, sit down and chat and [I’m] hoping they will drink coffee, too,” said Cezzar, a Stamford resident who came to the United States from his native Turkey in 2002.
His first job here in the States was as a Starbucks manager, a position he held for a few years before taking a job with CVS. Asked why he’s chosen to open a coffee shop, Cezzar said: “Coffee, I like it so much myself and I wanted to have a business that is fun for me, [where I can] interact with people, talk to them and they are coming in and having fun.”
A rendering of the southern wall at Kaahve, a Turkish coffee shop planned for 96 Main St.
Asked for her thoughts on the prospect of Kaahve’s opening, New Canaan Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tucker Murphy said: “We’re very pleased to know that such a visible commercial space will be re-activated by this small coffee shop with an owner on site, and wish Esref the very best in his venture.”
The space has been vacant since 10,000 Villages left in May.
The town this week received a building permit application for some interior renovations at the space and plumbing is a major job, Cezzar said. According to the application, Kaahve will offer seating for 14 people and standing room for up to 115, in a 1,619-square-foot space.
96 Main St. at the corner of Main and East Avenue has been vacant since 10,000 Villages moved out in May. Credit: Michael Dinan
A site plan filed with the New Canaan Building Department shows that customers entering from Main Street will see the coffee bar running against the wall on the left, with seating lining the “curving” wall along the right.
Kaahve will not cook its own food but will offer scones, muffins, croissants and other ready-made bites to customers, Cezzar said. In addition to the regular mix of coffees, cappuccinos, lattés and green and dark teas, the shop will offer some specialty Turkish coffees, he said.
I love Turkish coffee. Nice kick to start the day when I was in Istanbul for a month. Good luck Esref.