In a dense city like Lakewood, small businesses are abundant. From bookstores to boutiques, there are endless opportunities for business ventures.
One of the most popular kinds of establishments in Lakewood is the coffee shop. They provide a warm, cozy place to get work done or meet friends. In an everyone-knows-everyone town, this place of gathering is ideal.
In the past year, over five coffee shops have moved into Lakewood in all quarters, except for Birdtown.
Enter Flour and Bean. Flour and Bean opened in early February and is located on the east side of the Screw Factory. The historic building is home to many small boutiques and local artists, but it previously lacked a full-time café.
Owner Edward Myers is a veteran entrepreneur whose experience ranges from freeze-dried candy to food trucks. At his core, however, Myers is a pastry chef specializing in French baking.
“Cooking has always been a passion of mine,” Myers said. “I like to bake, I want to bake what I want to bake, and if you want to buy it, buy it.”
Myers picked the location of Flour and Bean intentionally, wanting to make his coffee shop a community hub that featured the work of Screw Factory tenants. He decorated the establishment with art from over 190 different vendors and artists housed at the Screw factory.
“I love being in the building; it’s a great community,” Myers said. “A lot of our customers get a pastry and a coffee and walk around the building.”
The decision to open in Lakewood was driven by the city’s walkability and atmosphere. “We wanted somewhere walkable, and Lakewood has that perfect community feel that we wanted, so it was destiny,” Myers said. “In the summer, we just hope people walking by or at the park can feel free to come in.”
Neighbors in the building have taken notice of the coffee shop’s addition to the building. Peter Stancato, owner of Nosotros Climbing Gym located across the hall, sees the café as a major draw for the building.
“The screw factory is a destination place for Lakewood, so Edward should draw in a lot of customers in the warmer months,” Stancato said. “I think it’s fantastic. The owner is competent, and he’s made a real investment in the space and his equipment. All my customers rave about the new coffee shop, and I’m glad to see him doing so well so early.”
While the locally sourced coffee from Cleveland is a unique feature, what really sets the shop apart is the house-made French bakery items.
“One thing I really like about Flour and Bean is the quality of the bakery items,” customer John Cranfard said. “It feels like I got dropped into the middle of France.”
Myers also brings mentorship to the building, being able to help the new artists and shop owners with the challenges of starting a business.
As the weather warms, Flour and Bean is positioned to be a perfect hangout spot to grab a bite and meet new people. The café is located on the east side of the Screw Factory building at 13000 Athens Ave.
