By Don Murtha
Cheryl Blanchard and Wendy Burton describe themselves as two creative women who are bursting with ideas to make Old Stone Coffee and Collectibles, 95 Main St. in Mount Angel, a place to be.
“We are here for anyone to come in to study for exams, use the Wi-Fi or just sit and read with a cup of coffee,” Burton said. “Make yourself at home.”
It is convenient that the partners, Blanchard and Burton, are also neighbors and long-time friends. Burton lives by Butte Creek and Blanchard lives by Butte Creek School and there is no one between them.
They opened their shop on Sept. 7, just in time for Oktoberfest, and they are open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 7 a.m. until 6 p.m.
“We also have gifts from our collection of collectibles which we have gathered from our families, friends and all over,” Blanchard said.
They serve coffee and pastries, including a braided butter roll created by a German community in Iowa and produced for the benefit of charities.
“We give a portion from our sales of butter breads to groups in and around Mount Angel,” Burton said.
In September, they gave to the Kennedy High School girls volleyball team. In October, they gave to the Kennedy High School Booster Club. They will be making a donation each month.
“We have ideas coming out like a fountain,” Burton said. “We want to see Mount Angel as a draw for the whole area.”
In addition to their own ideas, the Old Stone Coffee and Collectibles will the join with other Mount Angel events such as Kristkindle Markt and the Mount Angel HazelnutFest on Dec. 1 and 2.
For Christmas, the Old Stone Coffee and Collectibles will have live music every Friday night during December.
Also during the holiday season, children of all ages will be invited to “Find the Elf on the Shelf.” The elf will be hidden in different places in the shop. Those who find the hidden elf will get a prize.
The pair plan to hold a special event every first Friday. December will be done in coordination with other Mount Angel events and January is yet to be determined. February will bring in storytellers from the community to offer tales of the old days in Mount Angel.
“We won’t be your ordinary coffee shop. We will dream, and plan to come up with ideas to bring people to Mount Angel,” Burton said.
All while creating a place where people feel at home.
