Continuing the explosion of new businesses opening in Ardmore, downtown now welcomes The Story – a coffee shop and bookstore located at 45 E. Lancaster Avenue. Most recently, the building was the 843 VFW outpost, where it served veterans in the Ardmore area for over 30 years. Owners have taken the former outpost and renovated it with thrifted, repurposed and donated decor that all hold hundreds of years of history - including the 1893 Schomacker & Co. piano, the circa 1923 bar chairs, the custom lion-head bar from a local mansion, the book wall with chapters unfolding above the plush vintage lounger - and the feature wall designed and hand-papered by Carissa Robinson from Creator Studio in Philly. The Story will feature coffee from Sightglass and Methodical, and a simple menu of classic coffee beverages and pastries. The proceeds from The Story will support organizations in the greater Philly area and Delaware County who are seeking to help people who are in a difficult chapter of their own stories. Info about those partnerships is coming soon. The Story is presented with support from Calvary Chapel of Delaware County in Ardmore, a non-denominational church that meets in Ardmore on Sunday evenings. The group of people that make up that church wanted to create a space for the Ardmore community to enjoy coffee, books, and conversation. The coffee shop and bookstore are open to all who seek great coffee, a relaxing environment, and a welcoming place to unwind. For more information, call 610-649-1235, visit www.thestoryardmore.com or follow @thestory.ardmore on social media.

“The Story is a place where our stories intersect for a day or forever, where strangers become friends, ideas become realities, creativity flourishes, and questions find answers,” said Anna Walker-Roberts, Founder of The Story. “So grab a cappuccino, a book, and a seat at our table to see how the story unfolds!”

The Story was designed by Andrea Cummins-Disbro of Lost Orchid Interiors, and every piece of furniture, lighting, and decor has a story. Most items were thrifted, repurposed, or donated and hold hundreds of years of history. From the 1893 Schomacker & Co. piano, the circa 1923 bar chairs from Romania, the custom lion-head bar from a mansion in Jenkintown, or the pillars from the porch of a house that was built in 1743, when you are here you are surrounded by stories. All of these items share something in common: Just when it seemed like their story was over and they would be thrown out, they were hand picked to be a central character in The Story. Even our espresso machine, cabinets, and coffee grinder were refurbished to be used in this space. The decor also includes a special feature wall designed and hand-papered by Carissa Robinson from Creator Studio in Philly, plus a book wall in the reading room designed by Marina Malanchuk.

Walker-Roberts said, "There’s just something magical about all these discarded, broken, imperfect things coming together to make something beautiful that captures the heart of The Story."

For the vision, the founders of The Story said a great cup of coffee is a story with three parts. First the grower’s dedication at the farm level. Second, the roaster’s craft in preparing the raw ingredients. Third, the barista’s passion for excellence in brewing and serving people well. A great cup of coffee is something to appreciate. It’s not something one person can take credit for, but a culmination of efforts from across the world to bring you something delicious and invigorating.

The Story will feature coffee from Sightglass Coffee in San Francisco, CA and Methodical Coffee out of Greenville, SC. The menu is a simple menu of classic coffee beverages and pastries, including Espresso, Cortado, Cappuccino, Latte, Drip Coffee, Tea, Chai and More.

For booklovers, The Story has an extensive collection of used and new books – a curated collection of classic stories, history, biographies, religious texts, poetry, and culture. The fiction section features classics, poetry, and stories of hope.

The proceeds from The Story will support organizations in the greater Philly area and Delaware County who are seeking to help people who are in a difficult chapter of their own stories. Info about those partnerships is coming soon.

The Story is located 45 E. Lancaster Avenue in Ardmore and will open to the public for a soft opening September 29, 2021 and have a Grand Opening weekend Friday, October 1, 2021. To celebrate opening weekend, The Story is offering a “Buy one, Get One” BOGO coupon during opening day for use any time before October 13th. The Story is also offering a 10% discount for students, teachers, military, and law enforcement officers.

Hours for The Story are Wednesdays to Saturdays, from 9:00am to 3:00pm and Sundays from 2:00pm to 6:30pm. The Story is located at 45 E. Lancaster Ave, Ardmore, PA 19003. For more info, call 610-649-1235 or visit www.thestoryardmore.com