Tiny roasters are a big deal. Kirchoff, who opened Ohio City’s Passengers Cafe in the lobby of the Cleveland Hostel in 2016, brews Phoenix coffee and sells a rotating list of beans from micro-roasters such as Louisville’s Good Folks. “I want people to understand what coffee means,” says Kirchoff. “These people express themselves in how they roast and package these beans.”
The bikes on the walls aren’t just decoration. In the back of the shop, Sixth City Cycles provides quick tuneups and complete repairs with 7 a.m. weekday drop-offs. It also sells custom bikes using vintage frames. “They strip it down and put on more contemporary parts that ride smoother,” Kirchoff says, “but it still looks like the old bike.”
The space is modeled after markets and pop-up shops. The counter features pre-made sandwiches from Ohio City’s Herb’n Twine and Cleveland Bagel Co. schmears. In the front, a curated, half-price bookshelf is stocked with titles from indie publishers and authors such as Don DeLillo and Dave Hickey. “We’re trying to bring a market-like experience where you can find something you didn’t know you were looking for,” Kirchoff says. “Old Brooklyn is ready to turn to some cool, contemporary stuff.” 4193 Pearl Road, Cleveland, 440-941-8850, facebook.com/oldbkcoffee
