Archive Coffee & Bar | Travel Photography
Every coffee shop has its own unique personality, each one striving to stand out, to offer something innovative and valuable to the coffee community. Personally, I love experiencing coffee, not simply the taste, but the community of coffee. I love stepping into a new shop and finding that one thing that makes it stand out, discovering it's niche. I love watching the people that gravitate toward a particular shop. I love meeting the owners and staff and listening to their description of the space and what their vision is for the business. I love experiencing coffee and I loved my experience at Archive Coffee & Bar.
I had the pleasure of meeting one of the owners of Archive, Jesse Hayes, during my visit to Salem this past week. Not only was he kind enough to indulge my mother and I as we berrated him with questions about the business, but he was also so obviously passionate about his space, business, customers, coffee and plans for the future. We were also able to meet his brother, Brent, an equally passionate and creative individual (and from what I hear--a fantastic bartender). Brent described the 400 hours of work they put into designing and piecing together the expansive wall mural--10,000 nails and 9 miles of string--absolutely stunning.
The Archive space is light and airy yet showcases dark accents throughout that bring an atmosphere of sophistication and ruggedness to the shop. The bookshelves are beautifully designed with antique book collections and globes. My favorite area is the focal point of the room, the bar. Coffee on one side, cocktails on the other, a wall of glass bottles reach toward the ceiling, simple yet grand. A wooden ladder extends to the higher shelves drawing the eye upward.
I simply can't say enough great things about Archive Coffee & Bar. If you are a local or just passing through for a visit, be sure to stop by and experience Archive for yourself.
