With three successful coffee shops up and running, Bob Bonder, owner of
Tazza Mia, is now able to open up a coffee lab and wine bar that has been brewing in the back of his mind for a long time. “Even when I planning out the first Tazza Mia, I had an idea for a coffee and wine hybrid,” says Bonder.
Named 1215, its address on Vine Street, Bonder chose the simple name to help tie the new store to the Tazza Mia brand. “I want to be able to distinguish it from the other stores, but still let people know they can expect the same quality coffee we have always served.”
To ensure that quality, the new store, set to open in late November or December, will feature single-cup brewing methods, such as the siphon, which is currently used exclusively at Japp’s; the pour over; and an aeropress. An espresso bar will be on site, as will a small selection of handmade flavored syrups to ensure the best possible product.
“The focus will be completely on these brewing methods because it forces people to learn about these other ways coffee is made, and allows us to feature types of coffee we don’t normally use,” says Bonder. “These methods allow you to get all the possible flavor out of a cup of coffee.”
Bonder chose the Vine Street spot because of the atmosphere of the neighborhood. “At our Carew Tower and 600 Vine stores, people are always running late and are in a hurry, so this concept wouldn’t work,” says Bonder. “I think the idea fits really well with that neighborhood and people will be receptive to the new idea.”
1215 will also have a wine selection for in-store and take home sales. Focusing more on flights, Bonder again hopes to open customer’s eyes to the possibilities of taste. “We are going to have a small selection, probably six to eight flights, with three tastes each,” says Bonder. “We want to have it well-selected by us, people who know wine. We won’t just be buying what the distributor is pushing that week.” Bonder will also have a small selection of craft beer, whiskey and scotch at 1215.
With two busy restaurants, A Tavola and Senate, right across the street, 1215 is poised to attract the overflow. “I think we will get a good amount of business from that,” says Bonder. With a floor-to-ceiling wine rack, complete with a library ladder, rustic decorations and the atmosphere of a coffee shop, Bonder hopes to make his place the go-to spot for dates and guests searching for a more relaxed atmosphere. “I love OTR,” says Bonder. “But I don’t think there is anywhere like this in the area.”
By Evan Wallis
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