Stonington Secret

photo courtesy of The Social Coffee Roastery on Instagram

“Let’s meet at The Social,” my friend Ed suggested. I knew he was talking about a place in the Borough of Stonington, and I never pass up a chance to visit that vintage coastal town on the southwestern end of Connecticut. With its eclectic shops, quaint streets that one has to maneuver with precision, and overall New England charm, Stonington quickly seems to capture the hearts of those who visit.

This time, however, I thought the Borough folks had forgotten their calendars as Water Street still had significant Christmas décor. Maybe time moves a little slower in Stonington? Either way, I was late for my meeting with Ed, so after squeezing my car into a street-side parking spot, I started walking toward The Social, or The Social Coffee Roastery, to be exact.

Having never been to this particular café, I mistakenly headed down the wrong road and then into a group of apartments before finding my way to the right entrance. I walked in only to be taken aback by what seemed like a candy cane explosion. Red and white walls, bright red curtains, red-and-white fabric-covered cabinet doors, red knick-knacks, and other festive items decorated the countertops and display areas. And there, written in a lovely font, was “Merry Christmas” strewn in the center of a sunshine-shaped wall hanging.

“Oh hi,” Ed said as I opened the door. “I’d like you to meet Tom, the owner.” Almost ready to ask if it’s Christmas every day at The Social, I looked to Tom, who quickly explained the situation.

“Hallmark is doing a movie,” adding that the décor was not “his thing.”

photo courtesy of The Social Coffee Roaster/socialstonington.com

It turns out that the Social had been selected for an upcoming romantic Christmas movie set to debut as part of Hallmark’s beloved holiday lineup in December 2019. Filming was starting on Monday, so the production team had been finalizing the last-minute details.

After the standard exchange of pleasantries, Ed suggested I try the cappuccino. It usually comes with two espresso shots, but I already talk fast and had two cups of coffee that morning, so if Ed wanted to understand anything I had to say that day, one shot had to be it – if any.

We then selected the glass-top café table with two silver chairs by one of the front bay windows to chat. Moments later, the most adorable beverage arrived, complete with freshly grated chocolate shavings atop perfected foam. And that’s when I noticed something I wasn’t quite expecting.

As we talked, residents and guests of Stonington would wander in to chat with Tom. Like me, they wanted to know why it was still Christmas in town. Others, who already knew that Hallmark had called, were just stopping in as part of their weekend – perhaps even daily – routine. Ed had become one of those “stopper-inners,” and despite not even living in the town, he already seemed to be embraced by the Borough’s residents. He and Tom chatted about best steaming secrets and laughed about habits – apparently Tom isn’t one for lots of sleep.

Soon, a business owner from across the street came through the door, followed by a few more customers. This was The Social after all, and I quickly realized that this was the embodiment of community, right there and despite Hallmark’s clear handprints. People enjoyed one another’s company in this small space. They talked about the upcoming Super Bowl as the Patriots were headed into their 11th appearance (9th with the Brady-Belichick combo). They talked about books, about travels, and about when Christmas would finally vacate town (Feb. 2 in case you were wondering).

But what they didn’t have were their phones out or their iPads or their laptops. They talked, face-to-face. They listened, they learned, and they celebrated community – something this town seems to take seriously, preferring to “check-in” with each other rather than “check out” on screens.

For a spot that used to be a barbershop before Tom discovered his interest in roasting coffee beans (he became certified in 2013), The Social truly lives up to its name, and I, for one, look forward to my next conversation at this inspiring café – sans the two espresso shots.

- Karen Gerboth @QualityFloat