January 30, 2019
As students, Julia Daly 鈥�17 and Nick Tardive 鈥�17 often hung out at the Parlor Caf茅,
right next to campus at 303 Ashland St. Although the coffee shop felt like a home
away from home, they never dreamed they would one day run it. Then, the summer after
their junior year, the caf茅 closed.
After graduating the following year 鈥� Tardive with a political science degree and Daly with a degree in interdisciplinary studies 鈥� they decided to stay in North Adams. 鈥淚 really had fallen in love with North Adams, and felt like I had a home here. There are just so many lovely things about this city and the community,鈥� Daly said.
鈥淚 had a steady job at MASS MoCA and a nice apartment 鈥� conveniently located upstairs from the caf茅,鈥� Tardive explained. 鈥淗owever, I wouldn鈥檛 have fallen in love with North Adams had it not been for the Parlor Caf茅 introducing me to such a wonderful community 鈥� both when I was a freshman, and when I was looking for off-campus housing.鈥�
As they settled into their postgraduate lives in North Adams, the pair missed the
caf茅. 鈥淚t was almost a joke at first,鈥� Daly recalled, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 remember which one
of us said, 鈥榃ell, why don鈥檛 we see if we can find a way to re-open it?鈥欌��
That鈥檚 exactly what happened last October. Since then, Daly and Tardive have made the Parlor Caf茅 鈥� which serves breakfast and lunch, along with a variety of beverages 鈥� their own.
鈥淲e host musicians fairly often. It鈥檚 one of the most fun things we do,鈥� Daly said.
The Parlor Caf茅 also offers 鈥淩ambling Poets鈥� literary open mic nights every third Thursday, and comedy nights. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e really cool ways to get to meet new people, and to support local artists,鈥� Daly said. 鈥淲e want people to feel comfortable here, and to hear their ideas. Just come by and ask!鈥�
Customers also are enjoying the caf茅鈥檚 offerings. 鈥淭he mocha latte is pretty popular, too,鈥� Daly added.
