Brilla Coffee owners to open new location in downtown Gardner: why the coffee is so good
Big news is brewing in the Chair City.
The owners of Brilla Coffee, an award-winning “farm-to-cup” establishment with a popular location in Holden, have announced that they will open a location at 25 Main St., commonly referred to as the Bullnose Building in downtown Gardner.
Husband and wife owners, Alexis and Osiris Vallejos, are third-generation farmers from Nicaragua who say their experiences and background as a family and as business owners set them apart from other coffee shops in the area.
“We are coffee roasters and professional baristas which allows us to know and control our coffee quality very well from the farm to your cup,” Alexis said. “This allows us to provide our customers the absolute best locally roasted coffee from all over the world but spearheaded by our flagship coffee from our family farms in Nicaragua.”
The shop will be located on the first floor, with the entry doors between the building's famed lion sculptures outside on the patio in front, according to Jonathan Bombaci, president and CEO of Candor Realty, which purchased the property in 2022. The shop's space would be about 3,500- to 4,000 square feet, he said.
"I think this will be a nice comfortable space for people to hang out and also work from during the day," Bombaci said. "It will be a convenience for all of the new residents moving to the downtown area."
Brilla Coffee already connected to Chair City
The new location will not be Brilla Coffee's first foray in the Chair City. Officials at Holy Family Academy were delighted to hear about the shop because school has collaborated with the Vallejos for their annual coffee fundraiser, according to Principal Colette Goguen.
"We love Brilla Coffee at HFA - the coffee is amazing," she said. "They are a fantastic, family-owned local business. Supporters of our local events really enjoy their seasonal flavors."
The Vallejos, who moved to the area 20 years ago and opened their first shop in 2019, were awarded the honor of “Best Local Coffee Shop” in 2022 and 2023 by the Best of Central Mass Community Choice Awards.
“We use the best coffees from the around the world and locally roast them in small batches with great care,” said Osiris. “The exquisite flavor and aromas are a result of the high-quality process from the farm to your cup.”
More: Love story for the ages: Nicaraguan couple open coffee shops in Central Mass.
Brilla Coffee also offers wholesale roasted coffee supply services to local cafes, restaurants, and coffee shops. Their coffee is also available at local retail stores and supermarkets.
The couple also had a store in Northborough, but they decided to close the shop shortly after the new location in Gardner was announced.
"Our business has grown, our menu and offerings have expanded, and the location was not a fit for our future plans anymore," Alexis said.
Shop to offer breakfast, lunch and dinner menus
Coffee, however, will not be the only item available at the shop, according to Alexis.
“We plan to offer our full menu developed by our master barista and chef covering from breakfast to dinner,” he said. “Foodwise, we will be offering your classic breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals and sandwiches, as well as more unique and healthy options such as granola bowls, Acai, and various dishes and sandwiches created from our Latin American roots to provide our customers a taste of our extended culture.”
In addition to dining in service, the shop will feature take-out and outdoor seating.
“I first learned about Brilla when I was working in Rutland and they were highlighted in the Worcester Business Journal in 2019,” said Mayor Michael Nicholson. “They have a really strong business model and a great product, and I’m excited to welcome them here to the Chair City.”
Owners persuaded to open shop in Gardner due to city's investment in downtown
Nicholson said he had been working with the Vallejos for several years to bring them to the city.
“When I was first sworn in as mayor in July of 2020, I invited Alexis and Osiris to attend the ceremony and spoke with them about looking at downtown for a new storefront,” Nicholson said. “Since then, (I) and representatives from the city’s administration showed them around the city, had meetings with them on what their business would look like, and talked through the city’s development plans. I’m very happy to see all the work that has gone into this pay off as they begin work toward their opening later this year.”
More: Developers envision 'Downtown Crossing' in Gardner with pedestrian-friendly area
The couple said they were persuaded to choose Gardner as the location for their new shop after seeing the amount of development happening in the city.
“We live only 20 minutes away from Gardner and have been watching the city grow, with lots of investment and development, as well as seeing other unique businesses like ours (being welcomed),” said Alexis. “(The Bullnose) is a great looking building with lots of character, space, and situated right in the heart of Gardner with a nice patio and sufficient space for us to be able to make it our own. The first time we saw the building we knew it would be a great spot for our coffee shop.”
Brilla Coffee has already received all the necessary zoning approvals by the city, and construction is expected to begin shortly. The shop is scheduled to open by late summer, according to officials.
"We see Gardner as a great city (with) potential for new businesses and investors," Alexis said. "We can't wait to get to work and make (the Bullnose Building) our new home in the beautiful city of Gardner."
This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Brilla Coffee opening in downtown Gardner in the Bullnose Building
