David Kessel, Owner of the New Moonday Coffee Bar on Washngton Avenue. He Sells Only Speckled Ax Coffee and Coffee Beans.
Jewelry Made by Rebecca Perea-Kane on Display at Moonday. (Photo by David Kessel).
David Kessel, owner of Moonday, located at 93 Washington Avenue, announced today that his Coffee Bar is having a soft opening this week. It began today Wednesday and runs through Sunday from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. Kessel sells only Specked Ax; mhn.com suggests that this is the best coffee sold in the Portland area. His menu will also include teas, some of which he makes himself. It’s currently take out only, but eventually seating will be available for patrons.
Kessel has made the transition from a coffee cart to a “bricks and mortar” business based on the success that was his on the corner of the Eastern Prom and Congress Street last year. Moonday is located in the end unit formerly occupied by Ishi Ishi Ramen who vacated the site earlier this year.
Joining Kissel is jewelry maker Rebecca Perea-Kane, of ShopThicket.com. Kane’s lovely, sustainable jewelry is cast from natural objects. It starts with a real, foraged botannical item. The addition of her jewelry will be a delightful asset in this new business located in the black boxes on Munjoy Hill.
The Black Boxes, which are repurposed shipping containers, were the brainchild of Jed T. Harris, a former owner of the J. J. Nissen (Bakery) Building. Harris saw these spaces as an opportunity for start-up businesses to experience the retail business without investing a large sum of money to do so. STRATA is one such success story.. It began its cutlery business in one of the black box units. It quickly outgrew the space. Last year the business moved to a much larger space in the nearby J. J. Nissen Building itself and expanded its product line. On June 1, 2018, Harris sold the J. J. Nissen Building to Jake Edwards. Edwards also owns the restored building that once housed the A&C store.
The J. J. Nissen Bakery was established in 1909 by a Danish immigrant, Jergen J. Nissen. For so many years, it served as a major employer for residents of the Hill. In the early 1990’s, the Libra Foundation, established by the wealthy Elizabeth Noyes bought the building for $15 million. Noyes, who was divorced from the founder of chip company founder Intel, is credited with saving the building by restoring it and paying off its debts. Two years following her death, the building was sold to Harris.
Harris recognizing the need for low expense venues for start-ups, started this popular concept. It’s the second busiest street in Portland with the first being Exchange Street in the Old Port. Exchange Street got its start by serving as an incubator for start-ups years ago. But rents have outpaced what many small businesses can afford to spend initially. That’s why the Black Boxes on Munjoy Hill are so important in filling a much needed void for start-ups like Moonday.
Please visit post herein dated July 11, 2018 for more background information.