Tabby's Coffee Opens in Downtown Library

Tabby Tarter has long known that she wanted to open a coffee shop.

“It was a dream of mine as a kid,” she says.

Last Monday her dream came true.

Tabby and her parents are the new co-owners of Tabby’s Coffee. The shop replaces Bookend Coffee Co. as the library's cafe.

The new book-lined coffee shop is a dose of hot pink: pink lights, pink espresso machine, pink cotton candy. The shop radio plays Adele and pop music.

In the context of a historic library Tabby's feels like someone dropped a piece of bubblegum into a martini. And it works. I can dig it.

“We want to create a safe environment for families,” says Tabby's mom, Starla. She says they plan to bring in kids' tables and chairs and host tea parties.

Affordability is another value of the cafe.

They offer $1 kids drinks and 95¢ cookies. As a parent I can appreciate this—being able to take junior out for a hot chocolate without breaking the bank.

The cafe is serving Mazza Coffee, roasted by a startup in Mukilteo. The Americano I ordered came with great crema. It was smooth and not acidic.

There are chips, snacks, and gluten-free options as well. Pastries for days.

And there’s that cotton candy. It comes in flavors like watermelon, blueberry, grape, and Pina colada. It’s the only cotton candy machine in town that I know of, a treat that's sure to please the kids.

Best of luck to Tabby’s as they start their story in downtown Everett.

Stop in for a chai tea latte and some light Dostoevsky. Or whatever your thing is.

There's always time for a good book and a cup of coffee.