More than just a coffee shop….

Yesterday, I was reminded that Number Thirteen is so much more than just a coffee shop.

When I opened the shop almost 8 years ago, I honestly had no idea what I would create. To me, Number Thirteen was a way for me to work by my own rules, and to truly have something that was mine. That in itself, comes with its own risks. I had no idea whether other people would like the space I created, would understand my desire to be sustainable or whether they would appreciate the very distinctive retro flavour of the space. However, we were embraced with welcoming arms into the local community and business was great – we were busy and successful. But something else had also happened that I hadn’t really factored into my business plan, and that was somehow, we had created a community within the community.

I know that generally, coffee shops and cafes are places of social gathering, much like pubs and bars. I knew that friends and families would meet and catch up, talk about their lives over cups of coffee and slices of cake. It’s what I hoped for. However, something else was happening in those early months and years that I wasn’t expecting, and that was that friendships and connections were being forged because the coffee shop existed.

Strangers would happily strike up conversations with each other across the room, without any real provocation. Granted, Number Thirteen isn’t large, and you will generally be sitting within a few feet of someone wherever you choose to plonk down, but people were choosing to chat with their neighbours, who they clearly didn’t know. It could be a local chatting to a tourist, helping them find the best spots to take a good photo, or else two locals finding out they only live a street apart, or have children at the same school.

Slowly, as our regular customer base grew, it could be counted upon for certain customers to be in at the same time every day, or same day each week, and they would simply nod and smile to each other at first, but then it became a ‘good morning’ and a ‘how are you?’, and eight years later those same stalwarts are coming in, but instead of head nods, they are scooching over to make room on their table, so another steadfast customer can join them.

I doubt it is unique to Number Thirteen, but it isn’t something I have ever really experienced anywhere else. As a coffee shop owner, I have spent my fair share of time in other coffee establishments, both in England and abroad, but even in New Zealand, hailed as one of the friendliest places on the planet, I didn’t ever experience the level of community and welcome that Number Thirteen seems to emanate. Maybe as I am there so often, I see it more than I would as a one-time visitor, but it has been remarked upon by customers (both regular and not) that it's not the norm, and so much the better for it.

As I said at the beginning, yesterday was the spark for this latest article. It was a day like any other, with regulars and tourists all coming in for their morning breakfast brews. One of our customers received a phone call with some distressing and sad news. Unable to continue the call, she passed me the phone, and I spoke to the person at the other end. When the call as concluded, I went back to the customer to find her surrounded by other customers, consoling her and comforting her. They had no idea what had happened but could see she was in distress and instantly went to see if there was anything they could do to help.

Although it was a very sad moment, I couldn’t help but feel comforted by the sight. It could have been a very lonely and isolating experience, but as she said to me afterwards, she was so glad the news came when she was in our coffee shop, rather than home alone.

It made me think about what makes Number Thirteen different to other places, and honestly, I really couldn’t say. I just know that we are lucky to have such great customers. I have always said that we are nothing without our customers, and from a professional and financial perspective, that’s obviously true, but its also true of the ambience of the place. I cannot take credit for Number Thirteen’s warm and welcoming atmosphere in its entirety - the majority of that comes from the people that frequent the place. Of course, I’d hope that our staff and I play their part too, nurturing a welcoming and friendly atmosphere.

I then started to think what it means to be part of the community, and how we play our part in our customers’ lives. Yes, we provide good coffee, and fabulous cake, that’s a given, but there must be something else too. I think it’s that we become a part of our customers’ lives, and they become a part of ours.

As with many establishments that have managed to stand the test of time, we are privileged to be able to watch families grow from behind the counter. I have fond memories of customer’s toddlers going through potty training, coming out of the loo and proudly informing me that they had ‘done a weeeee’, and those same children are now almost on their way to secondary school. I have seen children grow into young adults, heading off to university and beyond, being able to chat to their parents about how they are getting on.

Likewise, customers have been able to watch our own family grow. Norah has been a part of the furniture at Number Thirteen since she was born and became a local celebrity within the confines of the shop. I truly believe that being in the coffee shop and having the opportunity to talk to so many different people, is the reason she is the confident little person she is today.

As well as watching our youngest customers grow, we are also equally privileged to be a part of the later stages in life. Many of our customers are older, and as the years have passed, so have some of our customers. I think in a larger establishment, these individuals would have gone by unnoticed by many, but in Number Thirteen, it warms my heart to see the care we offer, and the concern expressed by our customers too.

Older customers are regularly asked after by other customers, checking on their welfare and general health. If a customer hasn’t been seen in a couple of weeks, and we don’t know if they are on holiday or not. We have one gentleman who comes every Wednesday after the market shop, and due to mobility issues, he can only really sit at one particular table. Without question, customers will shift along, swap tables and help the gentleman to his seat.

Maybe I am biased, and of course, I cannot speak for all other coffee shops, and I cannot speak for other towns, but this care and attention isn’t something that you would see everywhere. We are lucky in Knaresborough to have so many places, whether that is a café, pub, shop or hairdresser, that provide such attention. I can only speak from my own experiences, but I think a lot can be said for small, independent businesses, with a real person at the forefront of everything. I also think that a lot can be said for towns like Knaresborough, with community at its heart.