Local coffee shop looking to revive Crisfield’s downtown area

A once thriving downtown area filled with successful local businesses, is now just a fond memory for some residents in Crisfield. However, a unique new business is working to revamp the area one cup of coffee at a time.

Laundry is a chore most people aren't too thrilled to do, but a new shop in Crisfield is giving local residents a little bit more incentive. Jay Tawes,owner of Suds and Duds, knocked down part of his laundromat's walls and opened up a coffee shop.

"The whole thought of opening this up originally was to give those people some place to go while they're washing their clothes. A lot of people even if they have a washer and dryer at home they will come down to wash their clothes here," said general manager Lisa Ward.

"I think it's a great combination of people having to do your laundry and while you're waiting go over there and get a cup of coffee or a sandwhich or a soup and you know I think it's a great combination and I think it's going to do well in Crisfield," said Crisfield resident Evette Anderson.

Java Jay's offers delicious pastries, coffee, sandwiches, even candy for kids. But opening up the shop was about more than just offering sweets and treats.

"As you'll see down the street there's a lot of closed doors and we're trying to stimulate other people other business people to open up small businesses so they can shop local, help build the community, keep money in the community and revive Crisfield ultimately," said Ward.

The local coffee shop's goal is to bring more foot traffic to the area and make the Main street as popular a place as it used to be back in the day

"I remember back in the day this whole street was just full of businesses and I remember going with my grandmother up and down you know post office you know it had so many places to do business," said Anderson.

"We're just trying to revive that because so many people have closed their doors and we're hoping that one business at a time it will build us back to that type of community support," said Ward.

And Ward says so far there's been a few people who've been interested in starting their own business in hopes off reviving the community.

For the winter season Java Jay's is open Tuesday through Saturday from 7 am to 3 pm. And in the spring the local coffee shop plans to be open 7 days a week.