.WAFMM_preloadImages.arguments; for(i=0; i0&&parent.frames.length) { d=parent.frames[n.substring(p+1)].document; n=n.substring(0,p);} if(!(x=d[n])&&d.all) x=d.all[n]; for (i=0;!x&&i
Sunday, February 23, 2003  10:22:44 AM


SPECIAL SECTIONS


FEATURED ADVERTISER



» Send us your news tips

» Send us a letter to the editor

» Contact editors, news department staff

Owners hope new Janesville coffee shop becomes oasis for the masses

(Published Friday, February 21, 2003 11:06:18 PM CST)

By Mike DuPre/Gazette Staff

Janet Philipp and Cynthia Calvin needed a quiet spot away from the office to talk about all the stuff going on at the office.

So Philipp, dean of UW-Rock County, and Calvin, UW-Rocks student services director, stepped off campus and into Mocha Moment, Janesvilles newest coffee shop and the only cappuccino-conveyor with a drive-through window.

"Its a wonderful setting, Philipp observed as she looked out one of many windows over a large deck and into woods.

"A lot of people told us about it, Calvin said. "Theres been a lot of word-of-mouth recommendation.

And its been just a month since Steve and Kathy Dean, 1646 S. Walnut St., Janesville, opened the 1,280-square-foot coffee shop at 1121 Center Ave. The shop is on the east side of the street next to Jims Pizzeria.

"The basic reason were here is we wanted to live and work in the same neighborhood, Steve said.

Steve--also a part-time teacher at Oakhill Christian School, where he once was principal--wants Mocha Moment to be the familys primary livelihood. Kathy works part time at the shop, and three of the Deans five children--Amber, 15, Seth, 12, and Jordan, 9--work over the lunch hours when they arent being home-schooled.

A niece, Dani Dean, also works at Mocha Moment.

Unlike Janesvilles other coffee shops such as CL Java, AT 119 and Jodys Gourmet Coffee, Mocha Moment was built to be a coffee shop, not renovated in an existing building.

The Deans bought and razed the old house that had been on the property; then constructed the building, which has a 444-square-foot deck; parking for 19 vehicles; the drive-through lane and driveways to both Center Avenue and Marquette Street.

The exterior cedar siding continues through the vaulted ceiling. Light streams in from windows on the east, south and west sides. A stone-mantled fireplace anchors the east wall.

The building is set up for both wired and wireless Internet access. The Deans provide one computer for customer use and free access for folks who bring their laptops.

"When most people think of an Internet caf, you pay for time (on the Web). Here, its a free service, Steve said.

He declined to reveal the size of the familys apparently substantial investment in Mocha Moment. Steve did a lot of the work himself. And, he said, the project would not have been possible without relatives and friends donating ideas, time, skill and labor.

Besides the usual fare of coffee, espresso, latte, tea and other beverages, Mocha Moment offers pastries and a light lunch. But dont look for a fancy or extensive lunch menu.

The fresh soup changes daily, but the chili remains the same. You can have any sandwich, as long as its made from turkey, ham, provolone or Swiss cheese.

"We want to be a coffee shop, just a coffee shop, Steve said. "Its a light lunch. Its not a lunch place. Its not a doughnut shop.

Kathy bakes much of the pastry at the shop: cinnamon rolls, brownies, biscotti, cookies and coffee cake.

The Deans buy all their other pastry products from Elegant Foods in Madison.

They got their java savvy and training from their coffee provider, Ancora Coffee of Madison.

"We worked really hard at not being chintzy, Steve said, adding that if an extra step is needed to get the right blend for a beverage, Mocha Moment will take the step.

"What its all about is we like people, he said. "We think its about service and hopefully making people feel welcome. You do everything in your power to make them happy.

Thats one of the reasons the Deans are experimenting with later hours later in the week. Mocha Moment is open from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Initially, the shop was open just to 2 p.m. The Deans have expanded their hours as the business grew. Steve envisions high school and college students using Mocha Moment to socialize, sip coffee and surf the Net.

On Wednesday, Mocha Moment was busy with customers, buzzing with conversation at 11 a.m. Several stopped to compliment the Deans on their venture.

The coffee shop is on one of Janesvilles busiest streets, four-lane Center Avenue, which is also Highway 51.

The shop is set back from the street. A large sign lets passers-by know its there. But traffic is fast and often heavy.

"Theres no such thing as a perfect world, Steve said. "One concern the professionals had was visibility. Wed like people to stop and see it, but I think our business will be built with repeat business.

"I think our customers will like this view and come back.

Philipp and Calvin concurred.

"This is relaxed and open, Philipp said. "You can either visit or go off by yourself and read at one of the little tables and enjoy the wooded area.

"Its open and spacious, Calvin said. "It has that north-woods feel.



Help for Habitat
When folks buy a cup of coffee at Mocha Moment, owners Steve and Kathy Dean set aside 2 cents per cup as a donation to Rock County Habitat for Humanity.

Janesvilles newest coffee shop donated $39.50 in January, when Mocha Moment was open for only half the month.

Habitat does good work providing shelter to people who need it, Steve said.

"Were trying to create a community with the attitude of caring, he added. "We like people to know theyre helping with a worthy cause.



To comment on this story
» Call our Sound Off line at 608.755.8335
» Write a letter to the editor
» Contact the news department at newsroom@ gazetteextra.com.

Home | Business directory | Classifieds | Contact us | Dining guide | Employment | Local/state news
National/world news | Newspapers in Education | Personal ads | Real estate | Subscribe

Copyright ©2003 Bliss Communications Inc. All rights reserved.
Use of this material and this site are subject to the GazetteExtra Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Content may not be published, broadcast, re-distributed or re-written.
post*0cI8sЊߦ@ JH*]PM/Ū`Kh]pKxuy kV+^ý#KL3küCMȲS^kcTvM̤sժ Nғ+_KNiWe1O溘˲_{X9144dd?11†㸸ßddd444 ! mSXsP ?"^mݓ{WX yLix3ߢ8ɒXl`h:Ch^鳭4̃pqQqvaVǜ j/Ej#Xo#Iv[nlHZMt]#D3v TOAǝ1QCaqZ6ipT WBX*P$hEvx-շSj!¿҃Z .rH"QG(s A5EU<fҲYhՁ=8Ky-IG`U9U]E|HHsUi2ěJXVpLW0$͹DvOA#Dxpj&nr}ZN!HEnpWﻐ_nY!I‹]˶]3R"~ v|;7/X#L%n9|.K Wl;ϝ+U,I5}bB065.X(2CÝjR