By LEAH WEATHERSBY

It doesn't take a long conversation with Dawit Belay to see that he's dedicated to both his neighbors and the hot, black liquid he serves them everyday at Café Noir.

Last year, Belay and his cousin, Goitim "Joe" Negash, decided that the stretch of Aurora Avenue near Oak Tree shopping center could use an independent coffee shop. Never mind the fact that Oak Tree already has a Starbucks store.

"I thought there was room for one more," said Belay.

Belay and Negash leased a space at 10309 Aurora Ave. N. that had previously been home to a pager company and a small film studio.

In June, after nearly two months of renovations including walls painted in warm, friendly colors and some cozy new furniture, Belay and Negash opened Café Noir for business, offering espresso and other treats such as Italian-style sandwiches (panini) and ice cream (gelato) - for the warmer days.

"I've lived (in Licton Springs) since I've been in Seattle - seven years," said Belay, who like, his cousin immigrated to the United States from Ethiopia, as a teenager settling in Houston, Texas. He and Negash later moved to Washington for both college and the topography, which is similar to the hilly area of central Ethiopia. "That's why a lot of Ethiopians more here," Belay explained.

Of course, once Ethiopia (the birthplace of coffee, according to Belay), meets Seattle (infamous for upscale coffee shops) the result seems inevitable.

"(Coffee) is part and parcel of the (Ethiopian) culture. You're not supposed to drink coffee by yourself," said Belay, explaining why Ethiopians are often seen sitting together at local cafes - even if they don't know each other.

But providing a meeting place isn't enough for Belay and Negash who also want to bring some literature to their little piece of Highway 99. They are planning to start an open mic night for poetry readings on Thursdays and a book club discussion night on Fridays at which, Belay (an avid reader and writer himself) said they will discuss "anything good and interesting. People (in Seattle) are very eclectic readers. We want to feel like part of the Oak Tree neighborhood." Obviously, being a new business owner anywhere can be tough, but on Aurora it can seem particularly daunting. Surrounded by Aurora's many different kinds of moneymaking ventures, both unsavory and on the up-and-up, Belay said, has been a blessing and curse.

"It's an advantage because you do get people stopping by," said Belay. But, he added, "the biggest challenge is that people are afraid of Aurora - they don't think it's safe enough."

Nevertheless, Belay said, having new businesses like his move in is a very important part of improving the street.

"It's always a struggle, but (business) is promising," said Belay. "Every place starts out this way and gentrifies. I think in a place like Aurora there's a place for everything."