Need a break? Go Downtown

By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- Downtown Coffee Cafe, which opened its doors Friday, isn't just another doughnut shop with glaring florescent lighting.
Instead, owner and manager Kathy Carsone used her knowledge of construction to blend earth tones such as hunter green, mahogany and deep honey to develop a relaxing atmosphere.
Adding to the colors are large leather chairs and sofas and a stone-fronted fireplace. Customers can watch one of three televisions, work on their own laptop computers or read magazines or the latest area and out-of-town newspapers in the library section.
Customers who don't want to sit inside can take advantage of iron tables and chairs on the sidewalk.
The cafe is designed, Carsone pointed out, so a customer doesn't feel awkward being alone.
"We had a lot of fun with this place," Carsone said of the cafe -- inside of what was once the Isaly Dairy Building at 29 N. Main St. in the downtown.
During the construction that began in May, an Isaly's cooler and ice cream chute were found behind a wall.
"We had a lot of work to do. It felt right. The building has a lot of character," the manager noted.
Many selections
The cafe not only has coffee -- $1.25 for a cup of premium brew -- but offers bistro sandwiches, gourmet breads, deli meats, salads, soups, quiches, and desserts ranging from Peach Zabaione to banana frost pie.
For example, the bistro croissant has roasted turkey breast, smoked ham and smoked baby Swiss cheese topped with pea pods, red peppers, red leaf lettuce and spicy dijon vinaigrette on a butter croissant.
The cafe offers latte, espresso and coffees flavored with almond, cinnamon apple, pumpkin, butterscotch and Snickers, to name a few.
Carsone; her husband, James Carsone Jr., president of Mark IV Builders Inc. of Hubbard; and her father-in-law, James Carsone Sr.; all own the Downtown Coffee Cafe on Penn Avenue in Salem.
Carsone and her husband own the 74-seat cafe here.
She used her experience working 22 years at Lafarge North America Inc., a construction material outlet, and a stint with Mark IV to put her eatery together.
Carsone noted that there is adequate parking. If there isn't enough space along the curb, there is a parking lot her family owns just a few buildings down North Main.
Downtown Coffee, which also offers catering, is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Thursday and 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
yovich@viny.com