Owner Carmel O’Shea, right, talks with Marsha Kouletis of the Greater Merrimack Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce at O’Shea’s Caife & Tae in Amherst on Thursday.
Johnna Gendron, left, and Michelle Camirand look at the menu at O’Shea’s Caife & Tae in Amherst.
DAVID LANE/UNION LEADER
Johnna Gendron, left, and Michelle Camirand look at the menu at O’Shea’s Caife & Tae in Amherst.
DAVID LANE/UNION LEADER
Owner Carmel O’Shea, right, talks with Marsha Kouletis of the Greater Merrimack Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce at O’Shea’s Caife & Tae in Amherst on Thursday.
DURING A TRIP to Ireland, Carmel O’Shea realized taverns are more than just a place to drink.
So when she came up with the idea to open O’Shea’s Caife & Tae in Londonderry, she wanted the place to be about good drinks, good food and a gathering space.
The same is true of the cafe’s newest location in Amherst.
The walls are cream color with black wainscoting panels, trim and ceilings.
Manager Christy Ayers prepares a latte.
DAVID LANE/UNION LEADER
“I really tried to take the look and the feel that we already established in Londonderry and just transfer it to this space,” O’Shea said. The grand opening at 135 Route 101A in Amherst will be Saturday.
O’Shea opened the original cafe at Londonderry Commons on Nashua Road about 5 1/2 years ago.
“The taverns in Ireland are not necessarily about going to drink, it is about going to meet up with people in your town,” O’Shea said.
She signed a lease in August for the commercial space, which was once home to A&E Coffee and Tea, which happens to be O’Shea’s coffee roaster. The fit-up of the house-turned-commercial building only took about eight weeks. Much of the plaza had been upgraded when new owners took over.
The sun porch with plenty of windows is perfect to meet with friends, read or get work done on the laptop.
“It has a really nice cozy feel to it,” O’Shea said.
Both locations offer the same menu.
Sophie Bartlett takes an order at the new O'Shea's Caife & Tea in Amherst on Oct. 19, 2023.
DAVID LANE/UNION LEADER
The coffee includes Stout, a Brazilian dark roast, and Pale, a Honduras light. The house blend, a mix between the two, is the most popular. The tea includes English Breakfast, Indian chai and a decaf chai, called “Toothless Tiger.”
The food menu includes bagels, breads, sandwiches and salads.
A second location was never part of the business plan.
“You have to love it because it is a lot of work, and I absolutely love what I do,” O’Shea said.
The liquor license in Amherst is pending.
“People are really excited,” O’Shea said. “They are excited to have local coffee back in the area, I think that is probably one of the biggest responses. I think people have been pleasantly surprised with the menus and the bagels.”
Whitley Quinn, 11 months, of Hollis toddles around O'Shea's Caife & Tea in Amherst on Thursday.
DAVID LANE/UNION LEADER
Coffee & Kindness
If that’s not enough caffeine, Coffee & Kindness has opened in Nashua. The grand opening took place last Saturday.
The cafe is known for its specialty coffee and “donuts worth driving for,” according to its website. The cafe is located at 105 W. Pearl St., the former City Room Cafe. The espresso machine was shipped direct from Barcelona, Spain.
“You all know what coffee is and where it comes from; this is our wellspring of kindness,” the company wrote on Facebook. “Our team has enjoyed meeting all of you and the extremely warm welcome.”
Pastries and baked goods come from Bird Food Baking Co.
The sign for the place was hand-carved on Nantucket by Petty Folk Art and Carving.
New HQ
Red Brick Clothing in Hudson will relocate its headquarters to Manchester.
The company bought the 8,360-square-foot former veterinary clinic at 55 Carl Drive for $1.3 million back in July. The company’s goal is to start 2024 in the new space.
“Our new headquarters will nearly double our footprint, allowing for increased customer amenities, production capabilities and employee benefits,” its website reads.
The screen printer, which opened in 1997, specializes in school uniforms and apparel.
EV showroom
A Tesla sales gallery is set to open at the Portsmouth Green shopping center on Lafayette Road next to McKinnon’s Supermarket. The space was previously Empire Beauty School.
The zoning board of adjustments approved a special exclusion last week to allow the storefront location at 2454 Lafayette Road.
The 3,230-square-foot space will only have room for two or three models indoors and two parked outside for test drives.
The gallery is “for potential customers to learn more about the vehicles, educate them on the vehicles’ features, and ultimately purchase a vehicle from this location,” according to the application.
Two parking spaces will be equipped with EV charging stations for Tesla demonstration vehicles.
If you have an interesting business or commercial real estate story idea email reporter Jonathan Phelps at jphelps@unionleader.com.
