A seat with your treat Atmosphere emphasizes a very 'local flavor'

SOAP LAKE — Patrons of the Caffeine Couch might end up liking the atmosphere so much, they could take part of it home with them.

That's part of the concept behind Soap Lake's new establishment, located at 112 S. Daisy.

Customers can order a cup of coffee and if they happen to like the couch upon which they sit, they can purchase it.

"We actually sell espresso, coffee, beer, wine, appetizers, desserts, furniture and art," explained Kris Alberti, partner with sister Karlye Pattison in the business, which opened Sept. 1. "We just wanted to make a place we would like to go to in Soap Lake."

Alberti had always wanted to own the building where the Caffeine Couch sits, while Pattison had always wanted to operate an espresso business.

"We thought, 'We need to add something to it to make it year-round, and so that's where we got the idea for the furniture," she said.

Alberti added that the hope is to eventually include an art auction to raise money for the city's giant lava lamp efforts. The artwork presently on the walls is by local artist and lava lamp coordinator Brent Blake's, and she said the business would like to stick to original art and showcase local and state artists.

"We are trying to keep it as much local flavor as we can with everything," she said.

All the different elements seem to blend quite nicely, she said, adding that the shop has sold several truckloads full of furniture.

And what about the inevitable day when a patron loses control of his or her cup or plate?

"If we lose a couch here and there because it gets damaged, we'll live with that," Alberti said. "We sold a lot more furniture than people expected. They sit down and go, 'Oooh, I love this — OK, I'll take it home.' That's what we want."

While it hasn't been an issue yet, Alberti said it's not the end of the world if the business has to clean a couch and offer it at a discount price or just keep it.

"We've had a tremendous response from the community," she said. Various Soap Lake organizations have held meetings at the Caffeine Couch location and shown their support for the start-up. "We're so thankful; they've kind of embraced us with open arms."

The business employs three people, although Alberti said it is primarily a family business, with only a few non-relatives. In addition to Pattison and Alberti, another sister and a cousin work at the business.

"If (people are) not from Soap Lake, it's worth coming because we have really cool, unique, high-end furniture," she said. "If they're from Ephrata or Soap Lake, it's worth coming just for the atmosphere and to kick back, and have a real contemporary atmosphere to hang out with your friends."

The Caffeine Couch is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday for the winter and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. It will also be open late after Masquers Theater events.