South Brunswick Library Opens New Coffeehouse This Weekend

A new twist will greet patrons of the South Brunswick Public Library starting this weekend.

Sunday will mark the grand opening of a new café coming to the library, with Grover's Mill Coffee House launching operations in South Brunswick. The SBPL, which has been working to add a café for the past few years, finally reached a lease agreement to provide patrons with expanded food and beverage options when they visit the library.

"This makes the library more of a destination and community gathering place where people can come and spend quite a bit of time," said Library Director Chris Carbone. 

The addition of the café does not involve the expenditure of any taxpayer money. The vendor is renting the space and assumes the cost of operating it, with the possibility of generating a small revenue stream for the SBPL.

"They're leasing the space and the library is the landlord," Carbone said. "We also look forward to partnering with them on some programs and events in the café area."

Grover's Mill offers a variety of gourmet coffees and teas, smoothies, sandwiches, pastries and other snack options.

The café is located near the front entrance of the SBPL with an approximately 400-square foot seating area. The space was included in the SBPL expansion that began in 2005 with the state supporting a capital plan, along with help from the Library Foundation and Friends of the Library. 

The Library Board of Trustees worked for the last several years to raise funding for the completion of the expansion project and contributed about $100,000. The Library Foundation raised an additional $70,000 and another $19,000 came from the Community Development Block Grant program. 

The balance of the funding was available out of remaining dollars reserved from a 2006 Capital Ordinance for library improvements.

The renovations included completing work to the unfinished lower level to allow staff workspace to be moved into that area, which then provided for more public space on the main level. A new program and craft room was divided into two smaller meeting rooms, a quiet study lounge was established and five single-pane windows were replaced to improve energy efficiency.

"The addition of the café gives us an area where people can gather and mingle, while giving us another opportunity to connect with the community," Carbone said.

The grand opening event for Grover's Mill Coffee will be held on Sunday at the SBPL from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. There will be live music all day with a special price of $1 for coffee. Click here for more information.