The murmurings were there.
In the Daily Grind Cafe, parents and other spectators were tired of no coffee or food at the Connecticut recreational fields where they spent hours at games.
Now there is cheering for the outcome at Tunxis Mead Park.
Daily Grind coffee shop owner Evan Parsons made a bid through the recreation department and reopened the “snack shack” at the recreational complex, named after Al Bell.
In a Facebook post about the opening, area residents expressed joy over the move.
“This makes me sooo happy,” one resident wrote in the comments.
“Yes! I may actually get through the soccer season knowing this!” another wrote.
One soccer mom commented, “This is awesome. Daily Grind CT is one of my top fav coffee places in CT!”
Another wrote, “I sure could have used this 25 years ago This is so awesome for you and the community!”
The stand is open to all using the park when the stand is open, so a lot of non-spectators weighed in.
“Going to have to go to the Mead for coffee and a hike,” one woman wrote.
Another wrote, “Good news for those of us doing never ending yard work and heading to the landfill, too! Congratulations!”
Parsons gutted the building — which hadn’t been used in a long time — and remodeled the entire building with new floors, walls, lighting, kitchen equipment.
deled the inside of the snack shack,
There’s no seating inside, but the walk-up window opened recently and it was an instant hit.
Award-winning coffee from Daily Grind in Unionville, hot chocolate, tea, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, breakfast sandwiches, popcorn, candy, flew out that window.
“In the past snack shack has mainly been limited to soda and candy,” Parsons said. ” I like being there and being outside. You’re making everyone’s day because they didn’t know we were there.”
Parsons, who wears four years of sobriety on his sleeve, and his wife, Betsy, have owned Daily Grind for about three years now. The breakfast, lunch gathering spot was a hit in the community.
In the non-sober days he was a bartender who went to bed at about 4 a.m., and says of now waking up at 4 a.m., noting, “It’s definitely nice to see a different side of the day – everyone’s a lot friendlier.”
Daily Grind, is located at 17 Depot Place in the heart of downtown Unionville.
Their own label coffee is roasted by Rebel Dog Coffee Co. in Plainville.
