When Ron Chamblin purchased the building at 215 N. Laura St. in January 2006 to transform the empty structure into a bookstore, the blueprint included a coffee bar and space for tables and chairs.
“I don’t think anything goes better with a good book than a good cup of coffee,” he said.
Since then, Chamblin’s Uptown Café has evolved far beyond coffee.
The food side of the business operates with the same hours as the bookstore: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; and noon-5 p.m. Sunday.
Breakfast choices include bagels and croissants with or without eggs and bacon, omelet wraps, yogurt and granola. The breakfast menu is available all day.
Sandwiches are designed with traditional deli meats and cheeses and fresh greens. The salad menu includes a spring mix with goat cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkin seeds and sprouts with balsamic vinaigrette.
Many choices are vegetarian or vegan, including the fresh homemade soups. Gluten-free foods prepared by personal chef and nutrition coach Millie Barnes are on the menu as well.
“We like to respect ourselves and we encourage our customers to respect themselves by eating healthy. We have become a destination for vegetarians and vegans who live all over town,” said Summer Black, assistant café manager.
The coffee bar serves Bold Bean Coffee, which is roasted locally in Riverside; Sweetwater Organic Coffee, which is roasted in Gainesville; and Green Mountain Coffee.
Black said all the coffee served at Chamblin’s is organic and it’s “fair trade,” meaning it was purchased from independent growers.
A full menu of coffee drinks is available, plus teas, juices, beer and wine.
The café offers homemade cookies and dessert items from Let Them Eat Cake! in The Shoppes of Avondale.
Located near the Main Library and Museum of Contemporary Art, Chamblin’s also has a children’s menu.
“We are very family-oriented. There’s a lot of humor and laughter in the atmosphere. We have fun while we work and it shows,” said Black.
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