By Bill Walsh
I am a great fan of open town squares, especially when they sit amidst local merchants. In walking through hundreds of urban open spaces, ranging from Central Park to Golden Gate Park, it seems that the proper dosage of local commerce (though I do not know the ratio) makes for the greatest level of enjoyment for said open spaces.
Springfield is a town blessed with a historical and well-utilized town square, complete with a nice fountain and a litany of great businesses. Naturally, one that stood out most ardently to me was a glass-faced brick building housing The Coffee Ethic. Arrayed with a square patio and a back entrance around the corner, this coffeehouse has actually been on my radar since a distant relation first informed me of their creation some years past. Finally in the area to try it out, I strolled over as soon as I could catch a spare moment to see if the hype had substance.
The interior space was well-lit by a mixture of the front windows and the various lights around the space. The shop is long, with exposed brick, concrete floors and a long wood-slatted bar. The furniture is interspersed throughout giving plenty seating which feels all the more spread apart thanks to the cavernous ceilings.
To say the least, The Coffee Ethic offers a tremendous benefit to the Springfield center square (not to mention the local area). Any time you can marry such a handsome space with quality offerings, it’s pretty hard to mess it up. If you happen to be hanging in the square or passing through town, stop by The Coffee Ethic for some great coffee.