After two years of business, Wrinkle & Boon closed its doors on Dec. 23.
In a Facebook post written on Dec. 3, the coffee shop announced:
“This is not an easy season for any small business so your support means everything. This has been such a tough decision. We have made lifelong friendships and have had the opportunity to make many connections within our community.”
Sadness was expressed by many community members on social media, as well as how much they enjoyed not only the coffee but also the connections that were made over the months and years (including many LebTown meetings).
Wrinkle and Boon additionally revealed that Sydney Roasting Co. will be opening up in their space on 9th Street in Lebanon on Dec. 26.
On Jan. 2 and 3, the cafe was open for a preview opening weekend. Owners, Zanetta and Kenny Kok, served coffee drinks and pastries during this weekend.
Friday, Jan. 8 will be the soft opening from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Free 12oz cups of regular drip coffee will be given out, as well as pastry samples, and a discount will be placed on the bags of coffee.
The official grand opening will be announced on the Sydney Roasting Co. Facebook page, as the date has not been determined yet. There will likely be a musician attending and more giveaways offered to the community.
After the soft opening, Sydney Roasting Co. will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., seven days a week. Their menu includes favorites for breakfast and lunch, pastries, fresh roasted coffee and espresso drinks. The most popular item offered currently is the cold brew.
“People always say it’s super smooth and they can drink it black without cream and sugar, which surprises most people,” Zanetta Kok, the owner of Sydney Roasting Co., said. “We haven’t launched the food menu anywhere yet, but I think people will really love the Mrs. Figg, which is a turkey sandwich on honey wheat with bacon, cheddar cheese, fig jam, golden ranch, lettuce, tomato, and onion.”
At the cafe, they will be making all of their own syrups for flavored lattes. In addition to some of the basics like vanilla, hazelnut, and caramel, a few signature flavors will be offered like Rosmerta’s Butterbeer, Salted Maple Butter Rum, Red Velvet Cheesecake, Almond Coconut Cream, and Vanilla Caramel Crunch.
“We operate as both Kitty Town Coffee and Sydney Roasting Co.,” Kok said. “We’ve been in business since 2017 after taking up roasting as a hobby on popcorn poppers in my garage. We’ve been roasting at the former Bethlehem Steel plant on Lincoln Avenue since 2019. We will remain there for all roasting operations.”
Kitty Town Coffee was the Koks’ first brand and the inspiration for starting the company. Coffee blends are named after real life cats they know and love, and each bag sold feeds a homeless cat at a local animal shelter for a week. Kitty Town Coffee is sold at grocery stores, gift shops, cafes, and online. Sydney Roasting Co. is the second brand that is more focused on freshly roasted specialty coffee at an affordable price. They sell through the website, and do wholesale for grocery stores, restaurants, and convenience stores.
“I fell in love with coffee while working at the local coffee shops here in Lebanon,” Kok said. “I worked at Legends Cafe, Timeless Cafe, and Cumberland Coffee & Tea. Growing up, I always saw myself ultimately running a cafe. When the opportunity arose to open one here in the town I grew up in, it was an offer I couldn’t refuse.”
“Since we don’t currently have a space that allows customers to come visit, we’re looking forward to being able to meet customers directly and develop relationships with people in our community,” Kok said.
To stay updated on Sydney Roasting Co., be sure to like the cafe’s Facebook page.
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