Wednesday, May 31, 2000

Have your java; hold the starch

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Shop combines coffee, cleaning

By Cindy Schroeder
The Cincinnati Enquirer

        COVINGTON — If nothing else, the unusual moniker of MainStrasse Village's newest business is an attention-getter.

HEATHER BUCKLEY (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

        Sandwiched between the Preston Financial building and Doug's Deli, Enzo's Coffee & Dry Cleaners often gives new visitors pause.

        “Initially, they are slightly confused by the combination,” said Heather Buckley, 26, president of the business. “Some think it's a joke. Others think we're dry cleaning on the premises. But once I tell them it's just drop off/pickup, they say it makes a lot of sense.”

        Opened May 17, the coffee shop/dry cleaners at 519 Main St. already has its fans.

        “It's wonderful,” said Kim Walton, a Clifton woman who often works out with fitness trainer Rocco Castellano in the back of Enzo's. “You can work out, get your coffee and get your dry cleaning all at one time.”

        Peter Theobald, an investment adviser with the Preston Financial Group next door, stops in nearly every morning.

        “It's convenient,” said the Wyoming man, who has been sampling his way through Ms. Buckley's menu since she opened. “I plan to drop off my dry cleaning sometime soon.”

        Miss Buckley's business partner, Mr. Castellano, originally had talked of putting a bakery in the building, she said. However, Mr. Castellano reconsidered when he learned that board of health regulations would have required him to cover up the hardwood floors he had just refinished.

        “He had wanted to put in a dry cleaners, and since it was drop off/pickup, we could pretty much do it anywhere,” said Miss Buckley, who previously managed Mr. Castellano's fitness facility in Cincinnati.

        Besides drink specialties, such as espressos, caffe lattes and cappuccinos, Enzo's customers can buy turnovers, brownies, muffins and scones baked fresh that morning at the WildFlour Bakery in Covington.

        For June, Enzo's grand opening specials include an eclectic mix: Mondays, frozen mocha for $2; Tuesdays, 10 percent off dry cleaning; Wednesdays, 50 cents off any drink; Thursdays, free coffee with dry cleaning order; and Fridays, $1 off chai latte, a spiced tea with steamed milk.

        “In the long run, it can only help the surrounding businesses,” said Doug Mardis, owner of Doug's Deli.

       

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