When Lynda Ortiz visits her daughter Kara Granger in Highland, the two women always start their day with coffee and a pastry.
They also enjoy trying new places for their morning ritual, so combined it all with a recent trip to opening day of the SIP Coffee House in downtown Highland.
“The blue facade of this building is what caught my eye when I was driving by last week,” Granger said, as the pair seated themselves at a bistro table near the front window. “I heard the doors would open March 5, so here we are.”
The new business at 2815 Jewett St.offers coffees, teas, sandwiches and desserts.
Owner Rhonda Bloch of Hebron knows what makes customers happy.
She previously owned Tiffany’s Tea Room in Crown Point, and transformed it into a coffee house, also named SIP, three years ago. That location is still in operation, and the impetus to open a second shop came from some of those that frequent it.
“Many of our customers at the Crown Point location came from Highland,” Bloch said, as she greeted customers to the new shop decorated with the work of local artists. “They asked us to open a SIP here, and so we did.”
While scouting a location, the heavily-traveled Jewett Street — with both car and foot traffic — filled the bill, as it is nestled between two popular downtown destinations.
The Primitive Peddler Gift Shop is to the west and Miles Books to the east.
“SIP is a great addition to our downtown area,” said Diane Roumbos, who owns the bookstore with her husband Jim. “This will help our bookstore — in fact, it will help the entire downtown business district.”
Dave Hinshaw of Hammond was one of the first customers when SIP opened its doors. He also is a book lover and made a visit to Miles Books beforehand. He mentioned to Roumbos that his next stop was getting his morning coffee and she suggested he try the new place next door. He did.
“All the people here make it fun,” he said, as he sipped his coffee and talked with new friends. “This is on the order of an Italian coffee shop.”
The new 1,300 sq. ft. business offers seating for 60, with most of the various-styled tables, a comfy couch and few overstuffed chairs on the first floor.
A small loft of sorts on a second level can accommodate about a dozen more customers. Free Wi-Fi is available, and some bring their own books to read.
“Highland needed a cool, comfy, place to hang out, enjoy meeting up with friends, and have awesome food and drinks,” Bloch said. “From the average teen to the older crowd, there is something that they all enjoy about SIP.”
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.