Good memories and good coffee: Remembering BC&T

Today, I learned that a Berea gem, Berea Coffee and Tea, is closing after many years. BC&T, to the locals, is what it has been fondly referred to. Sadly, the owner passed away unexpectedly a few days ago, which has led to this decision. And I have to be honest...I'm sad.  Adam (the owner) was a really cool dude, and Justin and I always enjoyed talking with him whenever he was there. I hope he is at peace, and I am praying for his family. 

Yeah...I'm sad. And I know some might think "gee, it's just a coffee shop. Why be sad at all?" And sure. From the outside looking in, it's definitely just a coffee shop. But to me, and no doubt to many others not just living in Berea, BC&T was, and is, so much more.  As I was reflecting on the news of the closure this morning, I thought about the years worth of memories I have, and so I wanted to share a few of them here. 

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One of the very first times I went in to BC&T was my first year of college at Berea, I went there with Kelly and our friend Tim, who we had just met at orientation. We all sat at the bar and had a really nice time just chilling out. 

During the formative years at Berea College, BC&T was a haven to myself and my friends, where we would often stop by for pre-class coffee, a quiet place to study, or somewhere to just have a yummy cinnamon roll or scone and escape college life for a while. I remember taking Genetics my last semester, and my roommate and I lived in Talcott, just down the street, and we would many times stop for a coffee or a hot chocolate if we got done with Genetics lab early. I remember when the tornadoes of 2012 came through, before they came through, it was very sunny and calm, and we went to BC&T because classes had been canceled.  The bavarian chocolate coffee, in particular, was a big favorite, and I remember asking Adam pretty frequently if it would come back in stock. I only had it a handful of times, but it was so delightful. Splurging on a mango jet tea as a Berea College student was a treat, and flavored sodas got me through the hot Berea summers. 

After I graduated from Berea, in a serious of somewhat unfortunate events, Kelly and I found ourselves having to come back to Berea early to get our apartment sorted and the utilities and internet turned on. It was BC&T where we would spend our afternoons, just killing time. 

BC&T became an even closer haven after Kelly and I moved to our Herndon St apartment, as it was within walking distance. I remember the snow/ice storm of 2015, and how we braved the elements to go get something warm to drink and a sandwich for lunch. We walked many miles to BC&T in the two or so years we lived there. When I was working at Grow, our offices were just two doors down, so there were many pre-meeting coffees and the occasional lunch to go. Sometimes, we would even have one-on-ones there. 

I remember one afternoon, I spent some time writing a letter to the one that would become my mother-in-law. 

I remember hiding in BC&T's warmth and coziness during many of the Berea Christmas parades; the front window was the perfect parade viewing spot.

In 2015-2016, I had met and was getting to know Justin, and we spent so many mornings and lunches there, sharing coffee and sandwiches and stories and just getting to know each other. We had a particular table that we would sit at, if it was available, something that we continued after we got married. After Kelly started travel nursing, we would always make a BC&T stop when she was back in Kentucky in between assignments. 

When I went through two bouts of losing my job, it was BC&T where I found some degree of respite, in between the grind of updating my resume, applying and looking for jobs, and dredging through the process of filing for unemployment. 

Before Justin and I got married, Justin's parents came to visit, and I remember coming down from Grow to have lunch...and imagine my surprise to see my future in-laws having coffee there! 

Kelly's wonderful roommate Hannah gifted us a BC&T gift card for our 5th anniversary. I still think I have money on it... 😔

And, most recently, we have stopped there for several post bike-ride mochas and cinnamon roll. Sweaty clothes and all! 

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Our visits to BC&T over the last few years had dwindled somewhat, but I still look back fondly on the time I was fortunate enough to spend at that little coffee shop on college square. I will miss the apricot scones, the corned beef and cheddar sandwich, the Tuscany, the cinnamon rolls, and the breakfast biscuits. I will miss the 5 star coffee, the white raspberry mochas, the chai, the flavored sodas, the hot chocolate. I will miss chatting with Adam anytime he was there. I will miss walking in to the open doors on a cool fall day, and if you sat at the right spot, you could feel the breeze. I will miss "our" little table. I hope I and many others remember this cozy spot with joy in our hearts and the comfort of years of memories it has given. 

Farewell, BC&T 💟