Trendy coffee shop opens in downtown Cortland

CORTLAND, N.Y. – The west coast coffee shop scene has officially arrived in Cortland, as BRU 64 made its opening debut Monday at the Marketplace Mall at 64 Main Street.

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The coffee shop by day and pour house by night will incorporate freshly roasted gourmet coffee, serving both hot and cold-brewed coffee, various types of tea and a light fare of items such as pastries, danishes and breakfast sandwiches in the morning and early afternoon hours.

Once evening arrives, BRU 64 begins serving several types of beer on draft as well as a strong selection of quality wines. Owner Judd Seales says they also hope to have live bands perform at the shop.

“The place gives off a good vibe when you come in” Seales said, a Homer native who also owns the Marketplace Mall and first began working on the coffee shop more than a year ago.

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Kelly Gregory, a manager at BRU 64, enjoys a cup of coffee with George, the shop's unofficial mascot (Photos by Peter Blanchard/Cortland Voice)

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Seales said he visited coffee shops on the West Coast–including several in Portland, Oregon–to get ideas for his business.

The new shop at 64 Main Street looks to fill a void left by the Blue Frog Coffee House, a beloved coffee shop that closed its Cortland location in May 2014.

One of the most intriguing parts of BRU 64 is the interior design and overall atmosphere. All of the tables and countertops are made of stainless steel with a sleek wooden finish, making for a more sophisticated look. The space also features a privatized conference room that can be reserved on request, Seales said.

Overall, the restaurant has many intentions, one of which is to cater to a more tempered audience, he said.

“We want to try and avoid the late late night stuff.” Seales said. “We're hoping it’s a gathering point where people will meet and then disperse by going out to dinner or going to see a show."

The morning, noon, and night mantra of BRU 64 means that they will be open from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

The hours may vary depending on customer preference and other factors, Seales said.

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