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Jernabi Coffeehouse, recently expanded, named Potsdam Chamber’s Business of the Year

Posted 4/22/15

POTSDAM -- The Potsdam Chamber of Commerce has named Jernabi Coffeehouse, 11A Maple St., as the recipient of the 2015 Business of the Year Award. In late March, Jernabi closed briefly for renovations …

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Jernabi Coffeehouse, recently expanded, named Potsdam Chamber’s Business of the Year

Posted

POTSDAM -- The Potsdam Chamber of Commerce has named Jernabi Coffeehouse, 11A Maple St., as the recipient of the 2015 Business of the Year Award.

In late March, Jernabi closed briefly for renovations and reopened its doors to a larger space on April 7.

In 2008, Tim Gardner brought his love for coffee into business by converting a portion of his garage into a small-scale coffee roasting operation and St. Lawrence Valley Roasters was born. Gardner’s roastery has specialized in small batch roasting of specialty coffees, offering a wide range of Fair Trade Organic and Rainforest Alliance coffees as well as regular and flavored coffees at the shop.

Three years ago Gardner purchased the Jernabi Coffeehouse on Maple Street, and in the estimation of the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce and many other community members, it has become a treasure in downtown.

According to a submitted nomination, “he strives to use local goods -- from supplies to local baked goods -- to his contractors that did the renovations.”

Expanding the coffeehouse, though, has not changed the atmosphere of the coffeehouse or the Gardner’s business philosophy, the chamber notice of the award said.

Gardner was previously recognized for his entrepreneurship by the St. Lawrence County IDA and also by the Clarkson University Reh Center for Entrepreneurship in 2012.

Beyond his “continued commitment to providing a great product,” Gardner “has provided the community with a gathering space that students, professionals, and locals all appreciate,” one nomination said.

The Potsdam Chamber will present the Business of the Year award at its May 13 Spring Luncheon. The luncheon starts at noon and is being held at Jake’s on the Water in Hannawa Falls. To RSVP for the luncheon, contact the chamber at 315-274-9000 or potsdam@slic.com . Cost of the buffet lunch is $20.

The chamber will also recognize more than 15 businesses and organizations celebrating a milestone anniversary in 2015.