Back to About Us

Orlando Sentinel

Coffee and Conversation Fuel New DeLand Business

DeLand - "Where are all the coffeehouses?" That's what Joe Valente wanted to know when he moved to DeLand about seven months ago.

Sure, a few local places serve specialty coffees, teas and a few baked goods. But Valente- a Boston native- was used to having a coffee shop on every corner; a place to go alone for a cup of java and the morning paper, or with friends for an iced cappuccino and conversation.

"There just really wasn't any place like that," Valente said. "That's why I decided to open one up." In its second month of business, the Boston Coffeehouse - at 109 E New York Ave. in the former Quality Quick Print building - has netted a large following of regulars, including lawyers, bankers, and police officers.

A grand opening is scheduled for Aug.23. Keeping with the tradition of the "Boston" name, Valente has hired an actor as a minuteman, who will hand out samples.

Boston Coffeehouse offers a large selection of specialty blends of coffees and teas, a variety of iced beverages, including frozen smoothies, along with sandwiches, salads and pastries.

A back room is available for meetings, and another room offers a television set, a couch, and a Trivial Pursuit game, which, Valente said, is used regularly by some DeLand judges.

The two-story building stood vacant for three years, according to Maureen France, MainStreet DeLand Association manager. Before Valente reopened it, a few local politicians occasionally used it for their campaign headquarters, she said.

"It just couldn't be better for downtown," she said. "I'm sure what he's done will spur more downtown redevelopment."

She said Valente - who has never owned a business before - and Monica Perigine, his girlfriend and co-worker, were totally dedicated to their project.

The 28-year-old Boston University graduate has a master's degree in city planning and came here looking for city job. For several years, he visited DeLand when he came home from college to see his parents, who live in Deltona.

"I really liked it here, and thought, this is such a wonderful town that really cares about the community," he said.

Valente envisioned what he wanted the place to look like, but said he never imagined what he would find under the floor and behind the plaster walls after he, his family and friends spent endless hours tearing things up and off.

"There were two layers of linoleum over these hardwood floors," he said pointing to the brightly polished floor.

His vision took a creative turn when it came to dealing with a wall in the cafe's back dining room. A previous tenant had painted it an unusual shade of green that wouldn't come off.

"I just painted a mural over it," he said.

After he removed the plasterboard in the cafe's main dining area, he discovered the building's original brick walls. But, the plasterboard also covered openings that were former windows.

No problem. The innovative businessman boxed them in, put a few wood slats and created bookshelves. They fit right in with the cafe's computer corner, where patrons can log on to the Internet while munching a bagel.

Valente owns the business and rents the 2100- square -foot brick building, but plans to change the latter.

"I know I just have to buy this building," he said. Others have no doubt about the coffee house's future.

"A business owner on the boulevard told me if business is this good in the summer, its going to be great when Stetson students are back in town," Valente said. "I can't wait."

Back to About Us