Root & Press Coffee and Books now open on Shrewsbury Street after leaving Tatnuck Square
Root & Press Coffee and Books has been up and running in its new home at 156 Shrewsbury St., Worcester, since the end of January, relocating from the Tatnuck Square area of the city. The café is a place where customers can enjoy good food, quick bites and nonalcoholic drinks in a homey setting that radiates bookish charisma.
Husband and wife, Rich Collins and Nicole Cote opened Root & Press, 623 Chandler St. in 2019, announcing the closing in fall 2023. The café took over space previously occupied by Beirut Bite. The short-lived C’Mondz Restaurant and Meze Greek Tapas Bar & Grille also were tenants of the ground floor space.
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Root & Press had been a favorite of West Side residents and while some customers might have been apprehensive about the café’s move, with parking as one of the concerns, Collins said he’s happy with the new digs on Worcester’s Restaurant Row. He cited insufficient space as a reason to relocate. The café now boasts a large commercial kitchen and two separate rooms that accommodate diners, book club meetings and other community-oriented events. A smaller room is dedicated to children’s books, where owner Nicole Cote, a teacher in the Worcester Public Schools, plans to schedule kid-friendly activities. In addition to books, the café sells gift items.
At the new location, Collins said he sees many West Side regulars and that the postal zip code 01602 (West Side) is very popular for deliveries and take-out. “Our business as others really changed during the pandemic, and we relied mostly on outdoor tables and take-out,” said Collins. “We couldn’t have made it without community support.”
On the business website, https://rootandpress.com, is the owners’ message, “Thank you all for your support!”
Collins worked many years in the food industry, starting as a teenager washing dishes and leaving as a restaurant general manager. He cooks at the café, which extends a warm welcome to both regulars and first-time customers. The staff offers the same high-quality service to every customer, said Collins. Maddy Babowitch, café manager, and Monica Kristan are two long-time Root & Press employees.
Root & Press currently is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; Closed Sunday. Ordering and delivery times are available on the website. Telephone: (774) 823-3878; Connect on social media. Seating is for 40. Gift cards available. Note: No alcoholic beverages served and no live entertainment. On-street parking.
The café goes the distance to meet customers’ dietary needs, offering a full menu of options, including vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan. Order from Food Specials, Breakfast, Lunch Salads/Bowls/Ramen, Sandwiches/Burgers, Sides, Add-Ons, Grab and Go (chips/nuts), Drink Specials, Classic Drinks, Smoothies, Shakes, Coffee, Teas, etc. The breakfast sandwich Avocado Melt and lunch sandwich Turkey Press Panini always are popular food choices, said Collins. So are grain and pasta bowls. Check out daily specials.
Collins has no plans to offer a standard full dinner menu, explaining that there are plenty of nearby full-service restaurants that do. However, the café in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day will prepare a corned beef special and an Irish stew.
Coffee shops and cafes play an important part of any community, said Collins. They offer a space for people to connect, relax and even work. They also provide a venue for social and cultural events. Coffee culture is increasingly popular because it offers a social and sensory experience, he said. “It has a rich history.”
Collins for the first time attended a recent meeting of the Shrewsbury Street Area Merchants Association (SSAMA), a non-profit volunteer staffed group that works to promote the diverse businesses located on Shrewsbury Street. He said he met many of his “neighbors” and looks forward to collaborative projects. “My wife and I were very familiar with Shrewsbury Street restaurants before we opened,” said Collins.
Worcester residents, Collins and Cote have a 16-month-old child. Expanding their business hasn’t interfered with family time, said Collins, who has a master’s degree in history. Current business hours are workable, he said.
Future plans for the café?
“Seasonally, we could adjust some hours, and there’s a possibility for outdoor seating,” said Collins. “We haven’t figured it all out yet,” he said. “For now, it’s all good.”
Lucy's Cakes 'temporarily closed'
Lucy’s Cakes, 256 Park Ave., Worcester, has papered-up windows and a sign on the door indicates the bakery is, “Temporarily closed for construction and renovation. We will be back soon. Thank you!”
The closure seemed sudden, with no announcement on social media. The business phone still rings but no voicemail set up. The scratch bakery, Lucy’s Cake Shop, opened in 2021, taking over space occupied by the coffee and waffle shop Blue Shades.
Stay tuned!
Thai Place shuttered in Shrewsbury
Thai Place, 50 Boston Turnpike (White City Shopping Center), Shrewsbury is permanently closed.
The restaurant had the “best tom yum soup,” according to a customer, who sent us an email about the closure. He said he and his wife had tried the classic Thai-style hot-and-sour soup at other restaurants and the recipe at Thai Place was the best they ever had. Thai Place posted a sign on the door directing customers to a Thai restaurant in the city and another in Sturbridge.
It’s always sad to see a favorite restaurant close.
If you have a tidbit for the column, call (508) 868-5282. Send email to bhoulefood@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Table Hoppin: Root & Press settles into new Shrewsbury Street home
