MOLLY VANDENBERG
Staff Writer
Sometimes all you need is a change from routine. Let’s be honest, standing with 30 other grumpy half-awake students every morning in the Tim Horton’s line can get old really fast. Thankfully, a new tea shop, A Spot & a Spell, just recently opened on the first day of classes on East Main Street in downtown Fredonia.
They’re still in their soft open phase, but are making big plans.
Upon first stepping inside, you initially feel right at home. There are a few small tables topped with real crystal balls. There’s a fireplace as well as a few other elegant tables and chairs (see if you can spot the Nimbus 2000). It’s impossible to miss the wall of Harry Potter merchandise. With t-shirts, Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans and a variety of books, an avid Harry Potter fan will not walk out of the door disappointed.
The owner, Patty Valentine, was very eager to share her story.
“I own Lady of the Lake and I’ve been looking for something different to do… One day I went for coffee and I [realized] there is only one coffee shop here in town. I wanted to do tea, as it’s becoming very popular,” she said.
“I’m a huge Harry Potter fan. I was watching [it] one day and I realized I could do something like Professor Trelawney’s classroom. So, that’s what I kind of modeled it off… with the mismatched chairs and the crystal balls and the teapots everywhere.”
Professor Trelawney was Harry Potter’s divination professor at Hogwarts.
Valentine wants to create a calm atmosphere for students.
“I’ve talked to so many college students over at Lady of the Lake and they’re like ‘I need somewhere quiet to go study,’ or ‘my roommates are noisy,” so I’m like, ‘okay, we’ll have wifi in here.’ This building is so old, there are actually outlets on the floors. They can actually plug their computers right into the floors,” she said.
They’re selling four different kinds of holistic artisan coffee. The Awakening is a cinnamon pecan, Witches Brew is a bold flavor, and The Whomping Willow is the regular blend. Tea will also be for sale. Flavor shots are available, as well as coffee energy drinks.
Eventually, Valentine plans on having hot and cold butterbeer, hot apple cider and even pumpkin juice. There are currently pastries for sale, but eventually she’d like to move into soups and possibly sandwiches.
There are many magic-related events planned such as tea leaf readings, wand making classes, potion classes and an herbology class.
There is A Spot & A Spell Facebook page you can follow to make sure you’re not missing out on any upcoming events.
“I want people to just come and hang out. That’s what I want,” she said. “I want people to come and feel like they’re going to a different place that’s out of their element, relax, enjoy it [and] move into a different world.”
A Spot and A Spell is open Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Evening hours are not yet determined.