Narberth Residents Prod Government to Help Attract a Coffee Shop Downtown

Several Narberth residents appealed to Borough Council Monday night to find a way to make room for a coffee shop downtown. But though supporters suggested most prospective customers would walk there, such a shop would still be subject to downtown parking-space quotas, for which council does not typically make case-by-case exceptions.

"We're prohibited from doing spot zoning," Council President Mary Jo Daley told the audience.

Miriam Shakow, the resident who has spearheaded an online petition since January, said she would give Daley a copy of the results. Shakow told council 63 of 73 respondents said they would typically walk to a downtown coffee shop.

"I would just like to know what kind of next steps there could be, if there could be a committee to study the issue," Shakow said. "I think the reward would be worth the risk."

One complicating factor is that Shakow is not, herself, looking to open a coffee shop, only to patronize one.

"I don't know of anyone who right now is looking to put a coffee shop in, but it sounds like Borough Council would certainly consider that application," said Ed Ridgway, communications director of the Narberth Business Association.

Downtown parking is at a premium in Narberth, and without a zoning exception, a coffee shop might need to replace another food-service business to have access to the required number of adjacent parking spaces.

"Narberth just does not have more parking spaces. You can't invent parking spaces," Ridgway said.

Said borough resident and artist Katie Pfeiffer, "I just think it'd be such a good idea because I don’t drink and I see that there's three pubs within three corners (, and ) and no coffee shops, and there needs to be alternatives for people who don’t drink and don’t socialize in that way."

Most supporters mentioned that given how walkable Narberth is, surely a coffee shop's clientele would take advantage of that.

"We would definitely walk there, not drive," said Anna Harold, a resident of the 300 block of Merion Avenue, about a quarter-mile from the Haverford Avenue downtown corridor. "Recently, we had a block party in my neighborhood, and that (coffee shop proposal) was a topic of conversation."

"Every town that I've lived in before here had one, and it became a kind of community center, especially in the winter months, when I've noticed I tend not to see my neighbors," said Rob McGreevey, Shakow's husband.

"I understand it might not be at the top of the Borough Council's list, but it could be possible," said resident Harwell Wells.

McGreevey suggested perhaps a coffee shop could share a parking quota with one of the Narberth bars, since the operating hours wouldn't intersect much.

Daley suggested Shakow and other supporters raise the issue in depth at a meeting of the council's Economic Development Committee, to see "if they could find a tenant who could have a viable business as a coffee shop." The next meeting is Monday, June 20, Borough Manager Bill Martin said.

Asked how she felt about her proposal's reception Monday night and the process of trying to make it happen, Shakow replied, "I guess it's frustrating that it can't be quicker. My sense is that there needs to be some additional pressure."