For the past seven years, Cavanaugh’s Coffee House has provided a warm, inviting atmosphere to customers, offering that jolt of caffeine that so many of us in the Northwest cannot go a day without. The coffeehouse is located in a residential neighborhood near Proctor District, and it quickly became a favorite for students looking for a quiet spot to study, or old friends looking to catch up over a glass of wine.

And since Kelli Haskins took over the business in January, she has been looking to maintain the level of hospitality set in place by previous owners Mike and Linda Soden – but with her own personal flair.

The 24-year-old is no stranger to the coffee business, having worked in smaller neighborhood shops as well as Tully’s. The overly corporate feel of some coffee houses inspired her to break out on her own.

One of her own personal goals is to use primarily local vendors to showcase all the community has to offer. The café currently features sandwiches from Joeseppi’s, breakfast items from Bagel Boys of Puyallup, and she plans to offer Mad Hat tea in the future.

“I hope to keep everything as local as possible,” she said.

Plans in the future are to feature the work of a different local artist every month, as well as a possible live music night. The café’s beer options also have a local edge, with offerings from the Harmon and Wingman Brewers, in addition to the typical Rainier and Budweiser products.

Although opening up her own coffee shop was always her goal, the Portland native was not entirely sure Tacoma was the place to do it – at least, at first. “I realized how many cool local products are available here in Tacoma, and how much opportunity was available,” she said. “I want people to know that by coming here, they’re not only supporting us at Cavanaugh’s, they’re also supporting other businesses in the community as well.”

As she works hard to get the business off the ground, supporting a cafe like Cavanaugh’s is not such a bad thing – Haskins is the sole employee, but she is always ready to greet each customer with a smile and a conversation.

The shop is open Mon.-Thurs. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Fridays 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Saturdays 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cavanaugh’s Coffee House is located at 3928 N. Cheyenne St.