Downtown Riverhead is getting a new coffee shop: Mugs on Main plans to be open by April

Downtown Riverhead is getting a coffee shop.

Kasandra Watkins and Jeff Schaeffer, of Patchogue, are opening Mugs on Main at 33 East Main Street, the former location of Mambo Grill and Lounge, which recently closed its doors. The engaged couple was busy Thursday painting and renovating the space. They hope to be open no later than April.

Watkins, who worked for Starbucks for 13 years and is a certified coffee master, has wanted to open a coffee shop since she went back to graduate school for business management, she said. The couple seized the opportunity to move into the vacant space after Schaeffer, who opened Peconic County Brewing in 2021, got a phone call from the owner of the property saying it was vacant.

“It was super quick, like ‘alright, let’s do this.’ We came. I looked at it. I loved it. And then a week later we were signing the lease, and here we are less than a week later from that doing demo and painting and getting things ready to go,” Watkins said. 

“I do really like the space and I really believe in downtown Riverhead,” Schaeffer added. “I think there’s so much opportunity here.” 

The name, “Mugs on Main,” was something the couple agreed on was both “fun and catchy” and would attract the attention of someone driving by.

The initials of the name also spell “Mom,” a tribute to Schaeffer’s mother who died last year. The logo features her handwriting and they plan to post her art around the shop, the couple said.

They are also working with East End Arts to feature local artists on the walls of the shop with a rotating display, and eventually get local musicians to come perform.

Watkins said Mug on Main seeks to capture a café atmosphere a la Starbucks. “Warm, inviting, something very comfortable. Just somewhere you want to just hang out and talk with friends, do some work [or] read a book,” she said.

“I wanted something like what Starbucks used to be like, somewhere you can come walk from home with friends, or meet before dinner or after dinner, and just have a fun place to be [where] no one’s rushing you out, no one’s pressuring you for a table,” she added.

The space lends itself well to a coffee shop, fitting around 35 seats inside, with space for couches, Schaeffer said. The building has a deck accessible from the back door facing the riverfront that can fit about 20 seats. The couple also plans to use the bar as additional seating. 

“That is kind of a cool way to have a cup of coffee. I kind of had this vision of the people sitting at the bar; instead of having a beer, they have a mocha latte,” Schaeffer said. 

As for coffee, Watkins is working with a roaster so that the shop can have its own blend. The shop will offer hot and iced coffees, espresso drinks, lemonades, and hot and iced teas, Watkins said. Watkins plans to get creative with her lattes by using ingredients like lavender, honey and cinnamon, as well as taking inspiration from her Mexican heritage by using chili powder and cajeta (a thick caramel sauce).

Schaeffer said they plan to offer more food menu items than would be found in a “traditional” coffee shop case, including hot breakfast and egg dishes, homemade pastries and muffins, and  soups and sandwiches for lunch. They are still finalizing the menu and are also thinking about offering açaí bowls and smoothies, Schaeffer said. The couple also plans to offer delivery and curbside pickup services.

You can follow Mugs on Main at their social media on Facebook and on Instagram @mugsonmain.