The Construction Café Serves Up Java and Tiles Under One Roof

You’re in Belmar, see a new coffee joint, and decide to give it a try.  You go in, grab a seat at the counter, savor your java, maybe watch some sports on TV, take in the atmosphere, check out the ceramic tile samples … tile samples?

Yes, at The Construction Café – a java/construction shop – you can not only get a cup of Joe, but fulfill your contracting needs as well.

Denis Coughlan, 46, Gary Bucholz, 49, and John Bucholz, 55, all Belmar, decided to “think outside the house,” er, “box,” and opened the 400-square-foot coffee house at 1005 Main St., Belmar, two months ago.

“We needed to think outside the box,” said Coughlan.  “The construction and carpet upholstery cleaning business was slowing down and the coffee shop’s previous two owners failed to turn a consistent profit. By literally marrying the two ventures together we figured it will increase our chances to excel in both.”

According to Coughlan, the establishment’s catchy name “was an obvious choice thought of by all,” and housed in the same space is Dimension Construction. 

The three gentlemen have owned Dimension since the early 80s, and the Construction Café is their first try at a coffee shop/restaurant.  Coughlan primarily runs the coffee house, while Gary and John take care of construction and bookkeeping for Dimension, which specializes in kitchens and bathrooms.

Coughlan brews their high-quality Colombian – “we like to call ‘The Fine Colombian’ after Steely Dan” according to the effervescent owner – in flavors such as Irish crème, caramel, vanilla, hazelnut.  He’ll also steam any coffee into cappuccino for clients.

Enough about the coffee, what about … construction and contracting? 

Dimension offers carpet upholstery cleaning, tile grout cleaning, tile and marble stone installation, kitchen and bath renovations, general contractor, roofing and siding, all phases of construction. 

Coughlan noted tiling installation and carpet and upholstery cleaning comprise most of Dimension’s business.  The small, but stylish Construction Café features some of their unique custom tile medallions both on the wall, and inlaid in the coffee house’s counter.

The shop carries only Dal ceramic tiles, as well as tumbled stone and granite for both kitchens and bathrooms, and customers may fill out work orders on-site.  Customers may also browse through several tile sample books in the shop. 

“People usually come in for coffee to inquire about our name. Then I give them my sales pitch and things get rolling,” Coughlan commented.

He did admit, “Construction is definitely leading the way,” but noted “Our coffee shop is beginning to boom, and develop a unique coffee house atmosphere all its own.”

This atmosphere includes customers coming in for coffee, and “Picking up a guitar and strumming,” a habit in a typical coffee house, noted Coughlan, who also strums away himself when not manning the counter or filling contracting orders. 

Perhaps as homage to his love of guitars, he mentioned his “celebrity client” is a famous, vintage acoustic/electric Jack Daniels Old No. 7 guitar proudly mounted on a wall of The Construction Café.  The tastefully tiled establishment has a vintage wood counter with seating, a few tables and chairs by its large front window, and tables and chairs outside, along with colorful window boxes full of flowers tended to by Coughlan.

He is proud of his service, stating when asked why clients should patronize his establishment, “The reason why you should pick us for your coffee and your construction needs is all about customer service and quality product. I am responsible for the work we perform and I can always be found at the shop 7a.m.-4 p.m., seven days a week.”

The Construction Café’s clients range in ages from four to 89, with a lot of customers venturing in for the coffee house’s coffee modestly priced at $1 a cup. Coffee is the bestseller and decaf anything is the worst, and Coughlan commented, “I guess people come to my shop for the caffeine.”

He also makes lattes and cappuccinos starting at $3, espresso from $2.50, smoothies at $3 each, and iced coffee at $2.  When asked if he fills unique requests, he said “Hold the pickles hold the lettuce, special orders don't upset us!”

Coughlan and the Bucholz’s definitely plan to expand not only their establishment, but their services as well. 

“Hopefully within the next two weeks, we will be offering a unique selection of gourmet panini sandwiches for breakfast and lunch, and will be featuring my ‘Triple Crown Chili Con Carne,’ which won the Belmar Fall Festival’s first-, second- and third-place prizes in consecutive seasons until it was eliminated from the festival program – a damned shame!,” exclaimed Coughlan.

Coughlan will be responsible for all future brewing and cooking, and – during his rare down time – will continue strumming his guitar and fraternizing with his customers in mellow times at the coffee house

The Construction Café’s hours are 7 a.m.-4 p.m., seven days a week, and will expand its hours in the next few weeks.  Its phone number is 732-299-2560.

Visit Dimension Construction online at http://dimensionconstructionnj.com.