Grounds for optimism: change is brewing at InFusion

Posted 3/30/11

by Jocie Dye [caption id="attachment_4316" align="alignright" width="300" caption="New owners, Mt. Airyites Jordan and Jane Shapiro (left), will be taking the helm at InFusion — A Coffee and Tea …

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Grounds for optimism: change is brewing at InFusion

Posted

by Jocie Dye

[caption id="attachment_4316" align="alignright" width="300" caption="New owners, Mt. Airyites Jordan and Jane Shapiro (left), will be taking the helm at InFusion — A Coffee and Tea Gallery, 7133 Germantown Ave., on April 1 from long-time owners Jason Huber and Jocie Dye, lifelong residents of Mt. Airy. (Photo by John Barone)"][/caption]

Ed. Note: Jocie Dye and her husband, Jason Huber, natives of Mt. Airy who met when they were both students at Central High School, are the owners of InFusion — A Coffee and Tea Gallery at 7133 Germantown Ave.

Last fall, Jason and I went public with our intention to look for new owners for InFusion. At the time, we asserted that our goal was to find a similarly community-minded company to take over, so that InFusion could remain the high-quality, welcoming, neighborhood anchor it has become.

We were fortunate to receive a lot of interest in InFusion, and we spoke to numerous individuals who had varying degrees of means, interest, ideas and experience. And then, one day we met Jordan and Jane Shapiro. In our wildest dreams we could not have conjured up a better match for InFusion.

Originally from Mt. Airy themselves, Jordan and Jane were already regulars who enjoyed the great Fair-Trade coffee, community vibe and arts and culture of InFusion. We were thrilled to find in them not only a values-match for ourselves and our business, but also a cultural one. Like Jason and me, they were high school sweethearts who married in their mid-20s. Also, like Jason and me, they grew up in Philly but spent several of their adult years living out west and traveling internationally, and they are similarly shaped by those cultural experiences. They are committed to maintaining the values of Fair-Trade and organics, and buying locally. For them, as for us, the ideal of InFusion is to continue to provide a public gathering space for the whole community.

Unlike us, they are entering this journey with far more experience behind them. A chef and a baker, Jordan also has experience running his own businesses. He helped found Tivoli Bread and Baking in New York’s Hudson Valley, and he was a co-owner at the Down Home Diner in the Reading Terminal Market. In addition, Jordan spent many years behind-the-scenes consulting and writing recipes for food network celebrity chefs like Bobby Flay, Christer Larsson and Jack McDavid. Jane’s long resume of food service and retail experience includes a Barista position, general manager of a fancy foods and artisan cheese shop, and service manager for a premier catering company. Also a mixed media artist, Jane is excited to further develop the art gallery and First Friday offerings at InFusion.

While Jordan and Jane will continue InFusion in the same values-based, community-minded fashion in which it was created, they bring a skill set to make improvements to the food menu. Five years our juniors, they also bring a fresh energy and enthusiasm that I am confident will infuse the store and the space with an even greater level of vibrancy.

To ensure the seamless transition our customers deserve, Jordan and Jane are currently learning how to make all your favorite drinks, as well as the ins and outs of running InFusion. They will officially take over operations April 1. Any and all outstanding customer balances, free drinks, coupons, gift certificates, events and rentals on the books will  be honored. InFusion will continue to buzz along as it has until we begin to see the enhancements Jordan and Jane will surely make.

I, personally, could not be more thrilled for InFusion! With the assistance of David and Betty Ann Fellner, Jordan and Jane were able to sign a long-term lease, which ensures InFusion’s existence in the community for years to come.  Both Jason and I will continue to live and work right in the neighborhood. We’ll still be familiar faces at InFusion — as daily customers. Nothing is more gratifying than to know that InFusion can not only continue without us at the helm, but can continue to get even better!

For more information, contact Jane Shapiro at 267-972-3801 or jane.shapiro@gmail.com.

breaking-news, locallife