By Jessica Legge Borders
FAIRMONT — After being in business for a little over a year, Serenity Cafe is continuing to grow.
“We get new people every day, and it’s growing and I really see good things for the future,” said Rebekah Pagan, who runs the shop with her fiance Adam Cross.
Serenity Cafe opened at 323 1/2 Adams St. in downtown Fairmont in August 2008.
Pagan said she was getting close to graduating from college last year and was thinking about her career. She had worked in food service to help put herself through school, and she really liked the feel of coffee shops. So when the opportunity arose for her to obtain a building and start her own business, she jumped at the chance and was excited to see where it would take her.
Serenity Cafe specializes in gourmet coffee and espresso drinks. Customers can get lattes, frappuccinos, smoothies and more. The store offers crepes and bagels and a lunch menu that includes wraps, salads and soups.
“We have some different sweets that we make to go along with your meal and your coffee,” Pagan said.
The store also has free WiFi.
“A lot of people really like the atmosphere,” Pagan said. “People have told us that the cafe is reminiscent of European coffee shops and cafes.”
She said Serenity Cafe’s service stands out. Pagan and Cross get to know their customers and build friendships with them.
Pagan said they’re also “always adding new things” to the business.
For instance, they started an open mic night, which is the first Thursday of the month and is growing. They also have art shows, which Pagan said have been very successful. These shows give the artists exposure and give Serenity Cafe customers artworks to enjoy.
“I like being in the atmosphere itself, and I love coffee and I love being surrounded by it and meeting the artists and building relationships,” Pagan said.
Cross is an artist himself, and he and Pagan are working to create a studio for him next door to Serenity Cafe. Pagan said art and music are a big part of the cafe, and she expects these elements to become intertwined with the business even more in the future. Cross has a Web site at www.adamcrossartwork.com.
Serenity Cafe is currently open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, but the owners plan to extend the hours in January and hope to begin operating on Saturday. For more information, call 304-816-4575.
E-mail Jessica Legge Borders at jlegge@timeswv.com.
