Skip to main content

Day 6 Part 1: Ember and Forge

After a transformative week of service, fostering community relationships and reconnecting with our neighbors, the group wanted to finish off our last full day together by learning more about the businesses that have sprouted in downtown Erie. And what better way to do this other than over some great coffee? The group headed to Ember and Forge located at 401 State Street at 8am to sip on a wide variety of coffee options, to engage in conversation with each other and members of the community and to meet with the brave and wondrous women who started this business, Hannah Kirby. Hannah received her Mechanical Engineering degree from Gannon University and later got her MBA. Upon graduating school, she took on a job at a manufacturing company in Erie, PA for 10 years. However, she knew that there was something missing in her life and she wanted to find something else to to do, to give back to her community in a different way, and have the opportunity to be part of transforming Erie and connecting with neighbors every day. She opened up Ember and Forge and has not looked back. She expressed that she has had to overcome some challenges prior to and upon opening the coffee shop, but she loves what she is doing and has been able to built. She shared with the group about how the name came about as well. The building of Ember and Forge was built in 1851 and owned by a candle maker. Thus, the name "Ember" was decided upon because it refers to the remnants of fire and flame. Hannah stated that"Forge" was also added to the name because it refers to Erie's history as a manufacturing town. 

Hannah anticipates growing the business and invites people into the coffee shop to not only buy coffee, but to share a conversation with each other. Stop by if you are interested in being part of this inspiring addition to the neighborhood in downtown Erie!

https://www.emberandforge.com/hoursandlocations



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Day 4: ASH WEDNESDAY

     The day started early for about half the group. A group of intrepid students braved the early morning bitter chill for a brisk walk to St. Peter's Cathedral for morning mass. After a scintillating wake-up service, they trudged wearily back for an eclectic breakfast to start the day.      The morning's project consisted of the organization of the Little Free Library's book stock. This project lasted several hours in the morning and stimulated the students interest in books by an overexposure to large quantities. After shifting the vast piles of various books, the students felt sufficiently hungry enough to go back to the St. Joseph house and dive into an lunch of assorted and widely varied foods.      Following this invigorating episode, the group as a whole felt it necessary to take a little repose. Sadly, at this time Caroline felt in necessary to retire to her home due to some personal health issues. After drying their tears, the re...

DAY 3!

After an awesome day of service yesterday, the group arose anxious to do more, to give more. Our leaders surprised us today! We spent the day getting to know our group together by being tourists in our Erie! We started our day with a scenic drive to the one and only Presque Isle! The group braved the cold and walked on the snow covered beach while engaging with each other and taking in the calm of the natural environment we are blessed to have in this amazing city. Afterwards, we headed to the Tom Ridge Environmental Center (TREC) and actively participated in some of the hands-on games they had as we toured the center. We loved learning outside of the classroom and getting to know more about the animals and the environment that of Erie. And of course we had to make it up to the tower too! It was very cold at that point and the group was getting hungry after a jam-packed community building day! We headed over to Donatos! We played cards and puzzles as we anxiously awaited for our piz...