At the heart of Lakewood’s Birdtown is Phoenix Coffee Company, located at 12501 Madison Avenue. Phoenix Coffee Co. has a little something perfect for everyone.
Phoenix is more than just another Lakewood coffee shop; it is a roastery with five locations across the Cleveland area: Coventry, Lee Road, Ohio City, downtown, and Birdtown. The shop has been up and running since 1990 and will not be going anywhere anytime soon.
As soon as you open the door to the Birdtown shop, you are immediately greeted by an inviting interior filled with live plants and lots of natural lighting.
Once you get past the very nice decorating, you are greeted by the friendliest faces at the counter. Baristas who are eager to talk to you about your day, take your order for you, and make you a delicious coffee.
Regarding coffee, Phoenix Coffee Co. offers nearly any coffee option you could ever imagine, as well as tea, Cleveland Bagels, and pastries made at the company’s downtown roastery. In addition to the housemade pastries, they also offer gluten-free and vegan treats from Philomena Bakery. All of the syrups are organic and made in-house, and the coffee is sourced from small women-owned farms in South America and Africa. Phoenix Coffee Co. is still running its winter specials, which feature a peppermint mocha, an eggnog latte, and a ginger snap latte. One of Phoenix Coffee’s unique features that sets them apart from other shops covered by the Brew Crew is their seasonal menu, which changes with the equinoxes. This means their winter menu didn’t begin until mid-December and will go for about another month or so. The gingersnap latte is a must-try item while it lasts.
The atmosphere remains a major draw for both staff and locals.
“I really love it here,” barista Carissa Baer said. “We’re all really creative and very open with each other. It’s a very light and relaxing work environment.”
The relaxed atmosphere that Baer talks about is truly reflected in the overall customer experience. Because the baristas love working here, they are much friendlier and welcoming to customers, leaving them walking away with a much better experience and a higher likelihood of coming back in the future.
Store manager Gretchen Burkey noted the shop’s community feel. “All of the other employees have formed some good friendships with a lot of the regulars,” Burkey said.
In the back of the shop, past the counter, customers can enjoy comfortable seating options and an intricately designed shelf with different coffees and products for sale. The shop also provides board games for customers to play, books to borrow while you are there and flyers promoting many local businesses and upcoming events.
“I love stopping in in the morning to get a coffee, and I always go look at what’s going on in Lakewood right now,” customer Lauren Lamparyk said.
Phoenix Coffee Co. is open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Weekend hours vary slightly, with the shop open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Make sure to stop in for your morning coffee and pastry, and fall in love with everything about this shop on Madison Avenue. Once that happens, you can visit the other four shops as well!
