April 11 – Last Saturday was such a pretty warm day and feeling the need to be out and about I went to the ribbon cutting opening of another new innovative business in Barryville- The 2 Queens Coffee Shop and Tea Room Pop-Up in Barryville. The shop’s location is at the former site of the Bang Bang Bar across Route 97 from the Barryville General. I have known Charles Wilkins and Martin Higgins for years as they were my neighbors when I lived in Yulan. 

The 2 Queens started as a fantastic honey business and Charles likes to tell you that when he craved danger and no one would go skydiving with him, he decided to become a beekeeper. According to Charles he is less of a beekeeper and more of a caretaker helping these beautiful gentle creatures find their way. “I guess I fell in love with danger” he likes to joke. As the demand for their honey grew, Charles added curated teas to their line of products as tea and honey are a healthful match made in heaven and many of the teas ingredients are pollinated by bees like lavender and hibiscus flowers. Martin the Head Roaster began micro roasting coffee twenty-eight years ago in a coffee shop he opened in his hometown of Columbus Ohio. According to Martin “diner coffee doesn’t take much effort but roasting coffee has to be a passion and takes years of studying and experience.” Every batch of 2 Queens coffee starts with the very best green beans hand selected by Martin and then roasted to their optimal goodness.  

The 2 Queens NGLCC certified small batch craft coffee line featuring six bestselling varieties are all organic and made with fair trade coffee beans. Five years ago, Charles and Martin opened up a very popular coffee café and roasting facility in the Pete’s Market Mall at 104 Kirks Road in Narrowsburg and for coffee aficionados the aroma of all the roasting coffee beans is pure magic. Charles told me that at the end of the summer they will be moving their café in Pete’s Mall to a larger space with river views on Main Street in Narrowsburg.  

The Pop up coffee Shop in Barryville is without a doubt the most cheerful spot in town with a very friendly and engaged staff, gorgeous wildflower wall paper and pink feathered lights and a bright blue floor no troublesome thoughts could possibly enter your mind as you sit and sip your coffee. Flooded with sunlight and lots of comfortable seating both inside the café and outside at tables their menu has at least twelve different varieties of coffee drinks-both iced and hot (including an excellent decaf) a dozen tea drinks-both iced and hot as well as milk steamers, cocoa, Italian sodas Mexican cokes, water, kids hot cocoa and kids milk steamer. 

The Shop also sells the Stickett Inn’s line of ciders. The delightful menu selection of baked goods have cakes, pies, both gluten free, vegan, and regular muffins, bagels, pastries, cookies, scones, and quiches. The Shop also sells their coffees, teas, Chemex Coffee Pots, and other interesting gift items for the perfect house gift! Charles told me that it is their tradition that both shop locations has “Flower shop Fridays” where you can buy beautiful selection of seasonal fresh flower bouquets” to get your weekend off to the sweetest start. Martin and Charles have had a long association with Barryville and have done collaborative business projects with other artisans in town. Many years ago Martin was the Manager of the Barryville River Market and when he looked out the window he often wondered why someone didn’t do something wonderful in the small building ( a former bar, and butcher shop in other incarnations) where their coffee Shop is now located. “Ï guess its fate and good fortune” he said.

For “Coffee, Teas and Bees-and making life’s rituals more fabulous,” The 2 Queens Coffee Shop and Tea Room at 3380 NY 97 in Barryville is the place to go. According to Barryville resident Christine Martin who attended the ribbon cutting “a coffee shop is a really good place to gather and talk to each other and take notes on what’s happening in our community and a dose of caffeine always makes us stronger.” The Pop-up Café will be in operation from April through October and the hour are 8-4pm each day and they are closed on Tuesdays. For more information or order coffee or teas online go to 2queenscoffee.com.