In downtown Salem, a new coffee shop is making waves: Bonzai! Coffee + Teabar. This vibrant café, located in The Forge, features a unique blend of Japanese and coffee shop culture.
Bonzai! offers a mouth-watering menu filled with creative drinks like caramel miso lattes and cereal milk matcha. Alongside these drinks, you can find delicious Japanese eats, including Spam musubi and rice balls. Co-owner Brent Hayes mentions that their goal is to keep the prices manageable, with most food items around $10.
Bonzai! opened on March 20, just in time for cherry blossom season. Hayes, along with his partners Kira Saito and Jeff Juul, saw a fantastic response from the community. Lines extended out the door during the first few days. Hayes shared his excitement about becoming part of Salem’s revitalization.
“Being part of this community means a lot to us,” he said.
The café’s décor is eye-catching, featuring a stunning bonsai tree and paper cranes, which symbolize peace and good fortune in Japanese culture. Saito folded 1,000 cranes to celebrate the opening, showcasing the team’s dedication.
The Forge itself is a remade space that once housed the Liberty Plaza mall. It now hosts other establishments like Clink! restaurant and Dreamies Creamery, aiming to attract more visitors to the area.
According to a recent survey by the National Coffee Association, over 62% of Americans drink coffee daily. This rising trend highlights the evolving coffee culture, perfect for new spots like Bonzai! that mash up traditional and modern flavors.
Bonzai! is more than just a coffee shop; it aims to create a lively atmosphere in downtown Salem. With plans to extend evening hours, Hayes wants to bring more nightlife to the area. The café is open daily except Tuesdays, operating from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with extended hours on weekends.
In short, Bonzai! Coffee + Teabar isn’t just another café; it’s a cultural hub that adds flavor and vibrancy to downtown Salem.
For more information, check out their website Bonzai! Coffee + Teabar.
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