Today we’d like to introduce you to Peter Femino.
Peter – please kick things off for us. How does this story begin?
Boston Common Coffee Co. was founded in December of 2004 by myself & Anthony Massari as a small local coffee shop in the North End. At the time, we were one of the few roaster/retailer/bakeries in the Boston area offering locally roasted coffee, a retail presence, and in-house pastries baked fresh daily. We also focused our cafe design around a “living” area with couches, loveseats and a gas burning stove to huddle close to during the winter months.
When we launched the company our goal was to always have multiple locations with a strategic expansion plan that would mimic the daily habits of our customer base. We wanted to place a cafe where our customers lived, worked, shopped, and found entertainment. With that we expanded into the Financial District at 10 High Street, Downtown Crossing at 515 Washington Street and 103 Canal Street next to the TD Bank Garden.
Today our business is still supported by the same principles we started with, friendly service and quality offerings. Our Roastmaster continuously sources the finest single origin coffees from both brokers and direct trade relationships with small independent coffee farmers. The bakers keep a balance of everyday favorites with seasonal specialties items. Finally, our lunch menu bridges the gap between the morning and afternoon coffee rushes as well as a quick bite for dinner before a show or game.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Anyone who has owned a business knows that the road is NEVER smooth. Regardless of how successful or how much financial backing the business has there are always struggles to navigate through. As a company we have experienced both the highs and the lows of operating a specialty coffee shop in downtown Boston. During our early years of growth there was very little competition in the specialty coffee market. We were considered the “anti-corporate” alternative for those looking to support a local company. Today, Boston is in the midst of a specialty coffee explosion with new cafes, both foreign and domestic, popping up one on top of the other.
This new influx of large corporate chains with strong financial backing has been our biggest struggle as a small, unfunded company. Yes, if you asked most people on the street, they would say they want to support “local business” but it’s hard to pass by the new shiny build outs they are able to churn out. Pair that with their ability to offer top dollar and benefit packages to staff and managers adds additional stress to retain our top employees.
In the end the bubble will burst and the market will level out. Some companies will survive and others will fall prey to the corporate giants. Boston Common Coffee Co. has been fortunate to have established a retail presence in some of the key neighborhoods in downtown Boston prior to the boom and we will look towards our loyal customers to help us push through and come out stronger on the other side. Sometimes competition is good. It forces you out of complacency, keeping you on your toes looking for every niche or advantage to grab another small percentage of the limited customer base.
Please tell us about Boston Common Coffee Co.
Boston Common Coffee Co. specializes in providing the highest quality of both single origin coffee and fresh baked goods. Our customers come to Boston Common Coffee Co. to enjoy the results of our Roastmasters ability to extract the distinct characteristics of each individual coffee. While they are there they can enjoy a vast selection of pastries backed fresh from the ovens at each location every morning.
Aside from our coffee and backed goods Boston Common Coffee Co. has developed a strong following for our “Donut Thursdays”. Our head baker, Julius Johnson, creates unique flavor combinations of various filled, vegan and standard cake donuts every Thursday morning. Even though we are not a donut company we are always featured as one of the top donut destinations in Boston.
One of the things that I am most proud of as a company is the relationships I have developed with my staff over the years. For me personally, I take a direct interest in getting to know the staff that really show interest in being a part of the Boston Common team. Some of my staff have worked with me for over 10 years and are like family to me. We fight, we have disagreements and at the end of the day we hug it out and move forward just like any other family does. It’s not all sunshine and lollipops and not all the staff agree with everything I say in do but I do try and look out for them as best as I can.
What sets us apart from other coffee companies is we are a true local “mom & pop” company. This also ties into one of the aspects that I am most proud of as well. Somehow we have been able to build a company without the luxury of having a strong financial backer. We have had to rely on hard work, quality products and most importantly the support of our loyal customer base. Without them we would not be where we are today. I think it adds a level of connection that you may not find in other larger coffee chains where the owners are present on daily basis working the counters, shaking hands and kissing babies.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I think my favorite childhood memory is not so much of a single memory but an overall experience. Growing up I ALWAYS had the full support of both of my parents in anything I tried. They provided me with the foundation of support to try and fail and then try again. In high school I had my own landscaping business as well as a brief driveway resealing business. Both times my parents helped me by assisting me with funding to purchase equipment and vehicles to keep the business growing. If I were able to keep a dollar for every shovel, ladder, or hand tool I broke or lost I’d be retired by now. Yet when it came time to start Boston Common Coffee Co. my parents were there again to help support me. Let me note that my parents are not from money, they were hard working middle class workers giving everything they earned back to their children in order to see them succeed. These memories have had an enormous impact on who I am today as a business owner, husband, father and friend.
Contact Info:
- Address: Boston Common Coffee Co.
515 Washington Street, Boston MA
10 High Street, Boston MA
103 Canal Street, Boston MA - Website: www.bostoncommoncoffee.com
- Email: info@bostoncommoncoffee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bostoncommoncoffee/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BostonCommonCoffee/
Image Credit:
Bearwalk Video Production
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