In coffeedom, third-wave philosophy embraces the fine art of preparing and then savoring a perfectly made cup of coffee. The Lorimer Street stop on the L is already home to Gimmie! Coffee; on Saturday, Second Stop Café began serving heralded Stumptown Coffee from Portland in its corner shop on Lorimer and Ainslie. Former Le Bernardin baker Merrin Frazier makes the pastries, both vegan and traditional. But it's the décor, designed by self-proclaimed "object collectors" and owners Paul Degruccio and Craig Kafton, that elevates Second Stop above your standard coffeehouse. Lamps are from JPMorgan's Wall Street office; table bases are from the Oak Room of the Plaza Hotel, tile work was done with century-old tile from vestibules and foyers in brownstones around NYC, and the fireplace mantel was salvaged from Johnny Depp's townhouse in the West Village. Even the seat cushions were retrieved — when the Alexander McQueen store in the meatpacking district threw them out. (Check out our slideshow to see what the decorating's all about.) Finally, a coffee shop in Williamsburg where there's something to look at besides asymmetrical haircuts and Slayer T-shirts.
Second Stop Café, 524 Lorimer St., nr. Ainslie St.; 718-486-6850.
Read more posts by David Rosenberg
Filed Under: 2nd stop, coffee shops, second stop cafe, slideshows, williamsburg
