Foothills Opens Footnote Coffee & Cocktails

From Foothills:

Maybe you have a third kid. Maybe you ARE a third kid.

If so then you know how we feel. We’re parents! Again. Footnote Café is officially open.

You also know that being third has its advantages. After raising the first two kids, mom and dad tend to take kind of a ‘whatever’ attitude toward parenting – resulting in the number three kid developing into a free-spirited personality. They also tend to be fun-loving, uncomplicated, and outgoing.

Ironically, that’s pretty much how we conceived (ha!) our latest space. We first told you about Footnote Café right here in our blog back in July  – it’s been a labor (ha! again) of love ever since.

Let’s start with the coffee – because that’s how every day at Footnote will start. Our co-owners Jamie and Sarah got a coffee roaster as a wedding present when they married in 2005 (yes the reception was at the brewpub). Ever since they’ve had a passion for coffee roasting. We have our own commercial roaster – which has been experimenting with at our main brewery for a month or so now. Jamie went to coffee roasting school this summer, and has been busy putting his newfound expertise to work testing different beans and different roasts . . . the employee coffee testing program has been an unexpected but welcome perk of working at Foothills. (spoiler alert: every coffee we’ve tried has been spectacular.)

Meanwhile, we set Chef Shane to work coming up with some goodies that would complement that coffee. He decided to bake all the breakfast muffins in-house, so they’ll be fresh daily. He’s also come up with a breakfast version of his ultra-popular #Shanewich, which like its brewpub counterpart will change often. Chef Shane’s also whipped up a pretty hefty ‘grab n’ go’ sandwich menu.

(btw since he’ll have a lot more catering to do Shane is getting a new expanded kitchen out of all this – hence his giddy look of anticipation)

While coffee will be available all day every day (Footnote will be open 7a-11p Mon-Sat, closed Sunday), we’ve also built in some fun libations to help ‘transition’ your day (hey we’re a brewery). We’ll of course have plenty of our craft beer available – 10 taps worth (though until those are installed, we’ll be serving beer out of bottles). But we’ve also put together what we think is one of the more comprehensive cocktail-slash-premium-wine-and-liquor menus in the city.  Our bar manager Nicole, who’s been experimenting for months, has created ten signature cocktails unique to Footnote, with ingredients ranging from cold brew coffee and house-made clover honey syrup to a smoldering rosemary sprig.

All that is available in a space that feels, in true ‘third kid’ fashion, free-spirited and uncomplicated. We even put a patio on both sides of the buildings for those warm Carolina afternoons and evenings. And we hope to periodically have live music.

Bottom line? Any time of day you’re looking to take a little break – or a big one – Footnote will provide a refreshingly relaxing alternative.

But for all its virtues, the café is only part of Footnote. The other half of the building can be converted into one of the most versatile event spaces in downtown Winston-Salem. Two indoor garage doors can separate the space, making the perfect spot for a small gathering (complete with full a/v capabilities of course). Or, if you have a bigger shindig, we can accommodate you and 250 of your closest friends.

We’re hoping everyone will come by and see us now that we’re open. Whether it’s to grab a quick cup of coffee, or to pick up a book from Bookmarks next door (did we mention we’re next door to a bookstore???) and linger awhile, we look forward to seeing all our triad friends in our new place.

So come say hi to our youngest ‘kid’. We’re already pretty proud.