Cafe Brosseau could open in Tacoma this week

By Kristin Kendle on January 14, 2013

GO LOCAL >>>

Tacoma's Three Bridges District could get a little fresher this week. A new neighborhood café and coffee shop - Café Brosseau ("Brew-So")- is set to open its doors Thursday, if the health department inspection goes well Wednesday.

"The community here has been incredibly supportive," say owners Christian Kelley and Donna Estes, mentioning that everyone from neighbors to St Patrick's School down the street have been asking when the café would open its doors.

The natives are restless and demand caffeine!

But make no mistake. Café Brosseau is about much more than caffeine. This little café - located in Dwell's old spot at 2716 N. 21st - aims to be all-local, all the time. Coffee will be by Tacoma roasting company Madrona, pastries are by Corina Bakery and sandwiches will be brought in from Proctor's Europa Bistro. There will even be local pickles by Lynnae's Gourmet Pickles to go with sandwiches and candies by Fingerprint Confections, located in Hilltop.

"Fresh, fresh, fresh. Local, local, local," says Estes in a chant that really should become the café's motto. It's rather catchy.

But the local connection keeps on going. Walk into the café and you'll immediately spot a counter with stools at the far end. The stools are from the recently closed Tempest Lounge. The counter top is a bowling alley lane from Paradise Lanes in Parkland. The café's name pay homage to local history. Brosseau is the last name of the twin brothers who built the building in the early 1900s.

"We're a neighborhood coffee shop, but it doesn't mean we wouldn't love to see commuters," says Kelley. "We're looking forward to great success in this neighborhood."

CAFE BROSSEAU, 2716 N. 21ST ST., TACOMA, 253.304.0087