Meadow Blues is thinking outside of the box
Chester. Introducing the coffee shops lunch box called the ‘Blues Box.’
| 01 Feb 2021 | 07:04
Gina Stafford, right, and her daughter Simone in front of Meadow Blues Coffee shop in Chester. Photo by Hanna Wickes.
Gina Stafford knows the importance of supporting local businesses.
As the creator and owner of Meadow Blues, the Blues-inspired coffee shop based in Historic Chester, she has managed to recreate her business plan during the pandemic, with a little help from her neighbors.
With a little help from friends
“We have a real community in Chester and the business owners here,” Stafford said. “It’s important to me. I know how hard it is to start a business and keep it running, and now with this challenge with COVID, you really have to think outside of the box.”
And so comes the ‘Blues Box.’
Stafford came up with the idea, which is a lunch box special she releases every other Wednesday at her cafe. The box is filled with food favorites from Stafford’s friends and fellow Chester business owners, and made with all local ingredients from farmers around town.
She says the idea really got started after a meeting with those very people.
“I introduced the Blues Box idea at a meeting I had with some other local business people and friends,” Stafford said. “Everyone started getting so excited and telling me all of these other ideas. I was like ‘wait, let me write this down!’
“I can’t say enough,” she added, “ about working with others to expand and learn from each other and work.”
‘Some great people with some great businesses’ here in Chester
Meadow Blues also sells beer from local breweries right at the entrance of the store, and Stafford says she wants to create a sort of hub for local craft breweries.
“My business plan had nothing to do with beer or lunches - just pastries and coffee. It’s just where it takes you.”
When asked about her hopes for the future of her cafe and Chester businesses in general, Stafford puts it nicely: “I hope people can make a comfortable life with the businesses we have here and make Chester grow.”
“It’s just a great area,” she added. “We have some great people with some great businesses here and have a lot to offer. Our community needs to get together and back us, so we can rise together.”
Stafford releases her next Blues Box next Wednesday, follow them on Instagram at @meadowbluescoffee to find out what lunch will be next.