The new Crickets Coffee House: A comprehensive review
Interior photo of Crickets Coffee House via Carly Burgio
After months of anticipation, the wait is finally over: Crickets Coffee House has officially made its grand reopening at its new location on 6 Center Street! For many dedicated Crickets customers, this move was a bit controversial, as the business’s previous location on Main Street was beloved by many; that being said, we felt it was our duty to assess the new and (allegedly) improved spot and report back to the people. The following article is a comprehensive review of the “new” Crickets for all coffee-goers as they reorient themselves to the classic shop.
Upon walking into Crickets, it is clear that the vibe has certainly changed: the twinkly lights have been replaced with vintage-style lamp fixtures, the once-neutral wall tones have been supplemented with bright teal and white, and the cozy couches have been substituted for high tables and a bar counter. We were admittedly disoriented by this at first, and even by the end of our visit, we were still unsure what exactly to make of the redesigning. This is not to say, however, that the vibe is unpleasant—on the contrary, the air of vibrancy in combination with the natural lighting that fills the room from the early morning hours through the late afternoon was exactly the serotonin-fill we needed.
It is a joy to report that the brave baristas, chefs, and other staff members at Crickets seem to have much more space than they did at the previous location. Rather than standing like sardines on a conveyor belt as they earnestly prepare your turkey chipotle sandwich, there is room for the employees to move around more freely, and we can only hope that this will make every lunch rush easier for them.
The space allotted for customers, on the other hand, seems to remain the same, and during the busy hours, this may make it difficult to find a spot. Take heed: if you, like us, tend to search for a spot at one of the window tables, it is imperative to know that the door does not close automatically. We unfortunately chose the window table closest to the door, and many a negligent customer walked away without shutting it, leaving us to scramble to keep the cool winter air out. It was, to say the least, quite an inconvenience. You have officially been warned.
Despite our personal grievances with the door, our experience at Crickets was otherwise largely positive. The food was exquisite, which reassured us that despite the change of physical setting, this was still the Crickets we once knew and loved. In addition, we were thrilled to enjoy both old and new specialty drinks, including the Lazy Lavender (Carly’s current pick) and the seasonal S’mores Latte (Abby’s current favorite).
In addition, we were particularly excited and impressed by the exquisite music taste of the baristas. For hours on end, we jammed to the classic feel-good oldies that were playing on the speakers, including “Take on Me” by a-ha, “Super Trouper” by ABBA, and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. This gave us the motivation we needed to do our work—interrupted, of course, by the occasional mini dance break.
Overall, though it may take some adjustment, the new Crickets is sure to reclaim its former glory and success, and is off to an excellent start. While we cannot say whether or not the new location will achieve the nostalgic feel that the Main Street spot offered, we can say that there is infinite promise in the walls of 6 Center Street for all customers, old and new.