Worcester Business Journal

14 Worcester Business Journal | January 13, 2025 | wbjournal.com BY MICA KANNER-MASCOLO WBJ Staff Writer T hough Pia Dowd has owned her Sturbridge Coffee House for 18 years, she only started liking the drink about seven years ago. Sturbridge Coffee House has grown with its community "I loved everything about coffee. I love the smell. I loved coffee ice cream. I loved the culture. I loved visiting coffee places with a relaxed atmosphere. I loved everything about it, just besides drinking it," Dowd said. Now, she's addicted. Dowd's mother worked for a local cof- fee roaster for a decade, allowing Dowd to see just how crazy people were for coffee as she'd watch them wait outside in the rain for a cup, prompting her to decide to go into the business herself. Aer opening her shop in 2007, Dowd originally only offered coffee and pastries, actively wanting to avoid serving hot food. But a premonition of an early customer proved to be writing on the wall when he told her: "You don't choose the business. e business will choose you." Today, Sturbridge Coffee House offers hot dishes from breakfast sandwiches and tacos to toasts and burgers. In fact, the shop's best-selling food item is its Sanchez breakfast sandwich, which features bacon, egg, pepper jack cheese, and chipotle mayo served on a cheddar jalapeño bagel. Sturbridge Coffee House sold 18,854 Sanchez breakfast sandwiches in 2024. e coffee house's drink offerings have grown to include bubble teas and smoothies, along with 40 different flavor shots for coffee drinks ranging from candy cane to pistachio creme. Dowd BEST LOCALLY OWNED PLACE TO MEET FOR COFFEE Winner: Sturbridge Coffee House, in Sturbridge Notable runners-up: Fuel America - Grove St., in Worcester; Bean Counter Bakery Cafe, in Worcester; Acoustic Java Roastery & Tasting Room, in Worcester; In House Coffee, in Worcester; Fuel America - Mercantile, in Worcester Website: www.sturbridgecoffeehouse. com Top executive: Pia Dowd, owner Founded: 2017 Employees: About 20 Pia Dowd, owner of Sturbridge Coffee House works to have a curated menu and takes her time adding to it. "Sometimes it takes me forever to add something, but once we do, I feel like we nail it," she said. Dowd admits she's more relaxed about the interior design of her shop, which features mismatched furniture and a play area for children, than she is about the menu. Still, she aims to create a person- able and cozy atmosphere for her guests. Over the summer, she added a new pa- tio, welcoming dogs and offering a small- town feel that attracts her customers. e coffee house hosts events including movie nights and bark-and-brew days to help foster community, an aspect of her business Dowd doesn't take for granted. "is is going to be really sappy, but I feel like if you don't have community, you don't have anything. Because I rely on the community, and they rely on me," she said. n B E S T O F B U S I N E S S F O O D & D R I N K BEST RESTAURANT FOR BUSINESS DINNER Winner: One Eleven Chop House*, in Worcester Notable runners-up: VIA Italian Table, in Worcester; The Sole Proprietor, in Worcester; Ruth's Chris Steak House, in Worcester One Eleven Chop House offers an affordable big city steakhouse ex- perience. Steaks are hand selected and certified prime-grade, while the wine list has received Wine Specta- tor's award of excellence annually since 2001. The steakhouse works to provide care to customers through a positive dining experience of food, service, and atmosphere. Website: www.111chophouse.com Top executives: Robb and Madeleine Ahlquist, founders; Caitlyn Carolan, president and owner; Keith Carolan, chief operating officer and owner; Aaron Francisco, general manager Founded: 1999 Employees: 92 n BEST RESTAURANT FOR BUSINESS LUNCH Winner: The Sole Proprietor*, in Worcester Notable runners-up: VIA Italian Table, in Worcester; Porterhouse Sturbridge, in Sturbridge; 110 Grill, in Leominster, Marlborough, Millbury, and Worcester; Cedar Street Grille, in Sturbridge The Sole Proprietor offers food and service in an elegant setting, with trained staff to deliver hospitality with each meal. The seafood and sushi restaurant keeps all fish fresh by storing at 32 degrees Fahrenheit and cutting them to order. By valuing good food quality, service, and atmosphere, the restaurant works to provide a positive dining experience to entice customers to return. Website: www.thesole.com Top executive: Robb and Madeleine Ahlquist, founders; Caitlyn Carolan, president and owner; Keith Carolan, chief operating officer and owner; Eric Andreoli, general manager Founded: 1979 Employees: 156 n BEST CATERER Winner: Peppers Artful Events, in Northborough Notable runners-up: Struck Catering, in Worcester; Simply Delicious Catering, in Auburn; Creedon and Co., in Worcester Peppers Artful Events creates catered celebrations with food, Pia Dowd waited three years for a building to become available on the eastbound side of Main Street in Sturbridge in order to catch customers heading toward the Massachusetts Turnpike.

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