After eleven years of serving caffeine-craving Marbleheaders, the classic coffee-shop Atomic Cafe has officially shut its doors. The last year has been tough on the cafe, between a drainage project that shut down Pleasant Street, the road allowing access to Atomic, and a pipe-break that led to water damage. However, Marbleheaders wanted the business to pull through, as shown by the loyal push to show support for the business during the drainage project. Through the years, it was rare for the cafe to be empty, but lack of business was not what led to the end of Atomic in Marblehead. The business founders, Andrew and John Mahoney, closed the cafe in order to explore new business opportunities in Florida.
Many wonder who will take over the 14 School Street location, and Blue Canoe Cafe is here to answer the town’s questions. Blue Canoe, a business owned by the sister-in-law of the Mahoney brothers, is a new coffee shop that plans to feed Marbleheaders healthy snacks and sandwiches. As this new business enters town, let’s pose the question, what do Marbleheaders look for in their local businesses?
Many teens look for a place to grab a snack after school. Atomic was a store that kids could depend on to provide a quick, delicious treat, and many hope Blue Canoe will do the same. Additionally, Marblehead needs a place where teens can hang out after school. In TV shows, teens will hang out at their local, casual restaurant, but no Marblehead business has risen to the challenge of being the clear teen hangout. Perhaps Blue Canoe will change that.
As for adults, reasonable prices are key. In a small town like Marblehead, it is easy for businesses to markup their prices and get away with it, but consumers need to trust that their purchases are fairly priced.
Additionally, parents want a family-friendly business. Although Atomic was a coffee shop, kids could still find something on the menu to please their needs. Adults also look for ample seating, though considering how small the location is, Blue Canoe cannot do much about that. But what Blue Canoe can do, just like Atomic or any other successful Marblehead venture, is to provide excellent service with a friendly staff. The workers at Atomic were known for their friendly and welcoming demeanor, something that is vital to the success of any small town business.
Though the presence of Atomic will be missed, Marbleheaders look forward to seeing what Blue Canoe Cafe has to offer. If it is anything like Atomic Cafe, the town should be in for a treat.