South Windsor Top Business Nominee: Birdhouse Coffee

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — Recently, South Windsor Patch asked readers to nominate their favorite local business for Business of the Year. Many South Windsor businesses have managed to navigate the turbulence of 2020 with steadfast determination and an unwavering commitment to the clients they serve.

Steve and Lori Palauskas established the Connecticut Valley Brewing Company at 765 Sullivan Ave. in 2017. After developing a coffee stout for the brewery in 2018, it sparked a vision and a newfound connection to coffee, and they added another venture within the establishment a year later: Birdhouse Coffee.

"We were built with the idea of community in mind," the couple states on the Birdhouse website. "Our mission statement, Crafting Coffee & Community, embodies the spirit of our three most important values: craft, coffee, and community. Craft represents the drive to do things differently and break outside the box. Through our core values, we believe Birdhouse Coffee can ignite a new love for coffee and sense of place in the people who visit us. With a strong emphasis on craft, all of our coffee is roasted small batch in house. The main mission of Birdhouse Coffee has been and always will be crafting coffee and community."

The naming of the new venture sprung from the couple's obvious affinity for birds. Among the charities they openly support are Horizon Wings in Ashford, a non-profit wildlife rehabilitation center specializing in birds of prey, and the Connecticut Audubon Society.

Several customers delivered high praise for Birdhouse Coffee in their nomination forms. A few excerpts are:

• "Birdhouse Coffee and Connecticut Valley Brewery have done a superb job of adapting for serving their customers this past year. They have added larger outdoor patio seating and heaters and an outdoor window to order coffee, etc. The staff there is very friendly and helpful - if you need anything you have only to ask. Not only is their establishment(s) great but they have done a real community service to provide an outdoor space for social distancing and meeting up with friends. We appreciate the atmosphere there and the quality of the refreshments very much!"- Jean Knapp
• "This business has been very creative during this COVID-19 pandemic, trying to keep their staff and customers safe. They have expanded their outdoor spaces which adds to the enjoyment of their many offerings. They serve something for everyone in their always changing drink menus." - Sherri Curtin
• "They have great food, a welcoming atmosphere, excellent customer service and it's beautiful." - Kellie Oppenheimer
• "Great coffee and goodies. Wonderful accommodation for safe outdoor dining." - Shirley Schiumo
• "Love the patio with gas fire pits." - Skip Gatting

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