Cornwall Coffee Co. & Mercantile continues lost tradition
“What’s a mercantile?”
It’s a question Oscar Dotter, NYC artist, entrepreneur and owner of Cornwall Coffee Co. & Mercantile frequently hears.
“My Uncle Fred had one of his own,” Dotter says as he briefly reminisces about his childhood in Oregon. “He once told me a mercantile is ‘a shop that has something for everyone!’”
The town mercantile, or general store, has more or less followed the horse and buggy into the annals of history. The very idea of it brings to mind scenes of “Little House on the Prairie,” (or for Cornwall residents, the Sands-Ring Homestead just up the road from Dotter’s 326 Main Street storefront.) The very concept can seem out of place amongst the suburban sprawl of our highly-specialized, and digitized, modern economy.
But Dotter isn’t looking to emulate big box chain stores or franchises. Cornwall Coffee Co. & Mercantile isn’t intended to simply be a shopping destination – it’s meant to be an experience. It’s a step back in time for the curious and for those who appreciate nostalgia. The very walls of the shop itself seem to subtly pulse with antiquity. Perhaps it’s the selection of vintage housewares for sale or the 1930’s soda fountain stools inviting you to sit down. Or maybe it’s the fact that shelving is made of repurposed wood from old Chelsea piers.
For instance, when was the last time you had an espresso hand-crafted on a century-old Italian Victoria Arduino manual lever steam pressure machine? It’s an entirely analog, manually-operated piece of vintage, hammered chrome technology. “It’s not digital or automated. You can’t press a button and make a drink on it,” Dotter explains. Staff has to be properly trained in the intricacies of its functions and operation. In fact, Dotter is so passionate about the entire “coffee experience,” that he and his staff are educated on everything about the fair trade process, from bean selection to preparation, giving them what he says is “an intimate knowledge” of the coffee they serve.
It should also be noted that Dotter’s coffee is specially supplied by J.B. Peel Coffee of Red Hook, NY. Not only are the beans roasted exclusively for Cornwall Coffee Co. & Mercantile, it also demonstrates Dotter’s conscientious efforts to source goods produced in the region.
“We have several boutique businesses around the Hudson Valley making exclusive products for us. We really wanted to find the best goods we can in the Hudson Valley.”
The shop is also an authorized retailer of C.O. Bigelow products – the renowned and oldest apothecary company in the United States, established in 1838. Dotter has made it a point to source the best men’s and women’s bath, body and non-cosmetic skin care.
“We even sell Parker and straight razors like your grandfather used. We’ll even supply and help you replace the blades.” Again, hearkening back to a time when goods were made to last.
Incidentally, like a shopkeeper from days of old, Dotter is well-informed about the products he sells. If you have a question about an item, he’s probably used it himself. If you want to know how to brew the best pot of coffee with a siphon set, he can tell you. If you want to know more about that handmade German axe hanging on the wall, he actually spent days chopping wood with the manufacturer gauging the quality of its craftsmanship.
Furthermore, Dotter plans to offer a “Top Ten” selection of vinyl records each month. With the medium currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity among young and old alike, he wants to offer his customers unique opportunities for musical discovery.
Unfortunately, with the global COVID-19 pandemic putting NY “on pause,” the store has yet to open. Luckily, with the state beginning to re-open, it’s only a matter of time before Cornwall Coffee Co. & Mercantile will finally be able to welcome the public inside. Dotter is hoping the store will be open sometime next month, though an official date will be announced when appropriate.
For more information about Cornwall Coffee Co. & Mercantile (as well as their numerous additional products) visit their website at www.cornwallcoffeeco.com and follow them on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cornwallcoffeeco
