Calamity’s Coffee owner says coffee ‘unites’
Jordan Bair manages Calamity’s Coffee, selling coffee and merchandise from local vendors from a shop in Oak Ridge’s Historic Jackson Square. (photo:Ben Pounds )
“I worked for a corporate chain for eight years and saw that coffee really unites people in a way that nothing else does, and I just wanted to continue that,” she said.
“People from all different backgrounds drink coffee. It’s a warm comforting drink. It’s a unique drink that you can do all types of things with. So it’s fun to watch people who wouldn’t normally sit down together pick their drink, sit at one of our tables and get to know each other a little better.”
She said before opening Calamity’s Coffee she served coffee at 201 Café and Wine Bar and later at Through the Looking Glass. Like her current business, both are in Oak Ridge’s Historic Jackson Square.
In keeping with her background as a collaborator with other local businesses, she said Calamity’s Coffee promotes small businesses “as much as possible.”
The shop, in addition to its coffee, sells merchandise from local vendors.
“Pretty much everything you buy here supports other small businesses,” she said.
The attitude of supporting small business even extends toward competitors. Calamity’s website speaks highly of Bud’s Farmhouse Coffee, also located in Oak Ridge.
“From the start, we have encouraged people to visit their shop,” Bair said. “They have better seating options and different brewed coffee profiles, but they are also customer focused. Anytime Calamity’s can put ttheir reputation behind another small business, we will happily do so,” the Calamity’s website states.
Bair said her favorite drink at her shop is The Calamity, which is an Americano with steamed milk and cinnamon dulce sprinkles. She said her biggest seller is Amy’s Campfire Latte, a marshmallow latte. A full menu is available at calamityscoffee.com/menu.
Calamity’s Coffee is at 219 Jackson Square.