Capital Coffee Shop next step in East Musser Street building’s revival

A coffee shop opening on Musser Street in a building rehabilitated by the owners is part of a resurgence there.

The 15,000-square-foot building at 504 E. Musser St. was purchased, after being empty several years, by Mike and Selena Richardson. Work to rehabilitate the former government building for other uses has been under way since, and the new shop set to go next week will be run by Selena.

Mike Richardson is a contractor and Selena formerly taught third- and fifth-grade students at Fritsch Elementary School.

“We bought it two years ago, and we’ve been renovating the building,” she said. Capital Coffee will open in about 1,000 square feet inside the building Monday, she said, but a grand opening is planned Wednesday. The shop will offer various libation options and pastries.

The overall structure provides office space, she added; it has two tenants, and as owners they also plan a business center eventually in another 1,000 square feet of space adjacent to the coffee shop.

“We’re going to expand,” she said, noting their down-the-road plan might come to fruition in a year or so.

Tenants already in the building include Local 4041 of AFSCME (American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees), and Facilities Management, which she termed a construction company. She said AFSCME, the public employees union local, moved in a few weeks ago.

Each tenant already in the structure has about 1,800 square feet, she said, and more space is available for additional tenants. The structure includes a ground floor, a second level and a third floor.

“We have a beautiful space on the third floor,” she said.

Richardson treasures the location near the city’s courthouse and its Library and Community Center, along with her view of the Capitol dome.

“We’re close to everyone,” she said.

The coffee shop will feature both hot and cold libations, including smoothies, and folks can order full-bodied options as well as sugar-free and gluten-free ingredients, said the shop manager and building co-owner. She said she will begin operations with two part-time employees to help her serve patrons.

As for the building, work continues even though much of it has been refurbished inside and out. Imminent is work to re-do the driveway, according to the former teacher.

“All occupied space has been refurbished,” she said.