Park Street Java Cafe

By Justin Post - 08/02/2008

Tiffany Steinborn talks about her new business, Park Street Java Cafe, while standing inside the shop Wednesday morning. Steinborn also owns Garden of Eating in the Butte Plaza Mall.

Tiffany Steinborn was looking for a relaxing atmosphere to read and sip coffee.

That’s a tall order for the Butte native who works several jobs and rarely stops moving.

But after touring the former Dodge Brothers coffee shop at 225 W. Park St. recently, she signed a two-year lease and reopened the business, which closed nearly a near ago, under a new name.

“I saw the potential,” Steinborn said. “To come in here and sit is relaxing. I love sitting up here in the morning reading the paper. I’ve never been able to do this.” Park Street Java Café opened July 25 and Steinborn hopes to attract customers of all ages with her baked goods made on site, organic coffee and a wide range of music that covers many genres.

“It’s a busy sound,” she said, as big-band music played in her shop one recent afternoon.

The café offers wireless Internet and features coffee, espresso drinks, scones, brownies, rolls and cookies baked by Steinborn, as well as other foods such as bagels, deli sandwiches, soups, salads, smoothies, tea, lemonade and wraps.

“There are quite a variety of different things,” she said.

This isn’t Steinborn’s first attempt at barista work.

She has owned and operated the Garden of Eating in the Butte Plaza Mall for the past six years, and was looking for a change of scene when she decided to open and operate this second business.

“This is my new baby,” said Steinborn, who will operate both businesses with the help of three employees. “I want to see that people like coming in here.” Steinborn is seeing a growing number of people visiting the new business in her first week of business. The lunch crowd had already discovered the café by Tuesday and Wednesday morning was her busiest yet.

“It was all new faces; people I would never see down at the mall,” she said. “I’m grateful for Uptown Butte businesses. There are way more businesses up here than I ever would have thought.” Jessica Johnson, who manages the building for Silver Bow Properties on behalf of owner John Richen, has a personal relationship with the store.

Her grandmother, Peggy Richens, once operated a sewing shop here and Johnson would spend hours picking up thread from the hardwood floor. (Though Richens is similar to Richen, the two names are not related and the spellings are correct.) Johnson is happy to see activity again in the old storefront.

“I love the coffee shop,” she said. “I just love to see it open again.” Park Street Java Café is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Steinborn plans to open for extended hours in September.

Reporter Justin Post may be reached at justin.post@lee.net.