Coffee City
Melissa Allison follows the world's biggest coffee-shop chain and other Seattle caffeine purveyors.
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Gypsy Java Cafe gets new owners, drops the "Java"
Posted by Melissa Allison
The coffee shop in the original Archie McPhee space on Stone Way is now The Gypsy Cafe, although that's not reflected on the sign yet.
New owners Debbie Galassi (pictured) and her boyfriend, Ben Steele, bought the shop in March, shortly after she was laid off by Starbucks. Although she was an administrative assistant -- more typing than pulling shots -- she learned to make espresso drinks there and through Caffe Vita, which supplies Gypsy's java.
Steele, who sells medical equipment, learned the cafe was for sale online while cruising for bars for sale. Gypsy's former owners moved to the East Coast, and the timing was right for Galassi, who declined to say how much they paid for the business.
They've been closing at 5:30 p.m. on weekdays, but recently got their beer and wine license and plan to start keeping the place open later -- maybe until 10 p.m. -- for the happy hour crowd.
Here's the place, a few blocks east of the Fremont Troll and across the street from the roaster and wholesaler Pura Vida Coffee:
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Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company
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