Photos by Sami Dash
At West Chester’s newest coffee shop and cafe, you’ll find handcrafted beverages, tasty bites and an inspired vision.
The West Chester borough recently welcomed a new business to its bustling High Street. Mayday Coffee Shop opened its doors this March, creating an ideal atmosphere for working, studying or taking an all-too-necessary mental health break.
“Mayday means ‘come and help me,’” says owner and founder Austin Piona. “Mayday is all about mental health and really bringing a space for individuals to feel inspired and motivated.”
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Mayday aims to bring mental health to the forefront while simultaneously creating a sense of community. You’ll see this vision everywhere, from the interior design and retail space to the food, beverages and even the staff behind the counter. “I definitely stress the importance of mental and physical health for my employees,” Piona says. “They need to take care of themselves so we can take care of our customers and our community.”
Open seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Mayday is the earliest coffee shop to open in the area and the latest to close. “That’s really important because this is supposed to be a hangout place. It’s supposed to be a place where you can do your homework,” the shop’s founder describes. “It’s supposed to be a place where you build community. Building community doesn’t stop at 5 p.m.”
A Downingtown East grad who shipped off to California for college, Piona has worked in coffee for over seven years and is excited to bring some West Coast flair to the Main Line. Craft beverages are prepared to your liking, and menu items include healthy bites like various toasts, salads, sandwiches and acai bowls. Four florists are onsite as well, and fresh floral bouquets are available for purchase. A tasteful retail section is the perfect place for finding a gift for a friend or treating yourself.
“The mission is what drove everything,” Piona says of the new local hotspot. “From our food and drinks to our retail and flowers, everything is different than what people have learned to expect from a local coffee shop cafe.”
Related: City Buns Brings Mouthwatering Cinnamon Buns to West Chester
