Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 7, Issue 9, September 2003

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Monkey Grind: not your average espresso bar

By SANDRA BURKHARDT

When going out for coffee became the highlight of her workday, Tricia Barbachan knew it was time to pursue a different career.

The former bank employee enrolled in a class at North Seattle Community College called "Finding the work you love," and realized that she wanted a job with more social interaction. She decided to become a barista for a local coffee chain, where she worked for about a year before deciding to start her own business: Monkey Grind Espresso Bar, which opened April 21 in the Greenwood neighborhood where she lives.

Nestled in the modern brick Guinevere apartment complex at North 85th Street and Evanston Avenue North, the closest coffee shop lies just four blocks away.

Barbachan hopes her independent shop can provide personalized service and atmosphere that the big coffee chains can't. "I want to create a hangout for the locals, a more intimate atmosphere where we can provide coffee with some creativity," she said. "We'd like to cater to our customer's individual tastes."

This may entail, for example, offering a customer a "ristretto shot" (when the sweetness of the bean is extracted), as well as free wireless Internet for customers who want to use the laptop computer at the shop, or bring their own laptop to plug in. The shop also serves sandwiches and healthy choices, like fruit and yogurt, plus the "best biscotti" she's ever tasted.

She would like to eventually extend her store hours later into the evening to be able to host events such as an open-mike night and live music. Barbachan has also gotten involved in helping to support the community by donating coffee to volunteers who worked on the recently opened Greenwood Neighborhood Park, located just two blocks from her shop, as well as donating coffee to the Greenwood Senior Center across the street.

And since she personally serves customers at her shop, providing superior customer service is foremost on her agenda. After all, many of the customers are her neighbors. Barbachan is assisted by her boyfriend and mother, in addition to an employee.

She states, "I have a vested interest in this neighborhood because I live in it. I think Greenwood will be the next Broadway. I hope my business attracts more pedestrians, as well as businesses, to it."

Opening Monkey Grind has been a challenging journey. It took notice of an impending layoff from her position as a compensation analyst at a large bank to spur Barbachan into action. First she took several classes on accounting and small business startups, as well as the career workshop, then she had to deal with the challenges of funding and details such as finding the right location for her shop and buying the necessary supplies to operate the business.

Though Barbachan had to fund her venture solely with her own money and is currently working seven days a week, she says, "I love what I'm doing and am my own boss. It's different, working for myself, because when you're working for someone else they may not appreciate your efforts, but I know how much I'm doing and that it'll pay off."

What's the story behind the name?

Barbachan says she wanted to convey her belief that when unfortunate things happen in life, such as getting laid off, you can make it work for you. "You can either stay home and cry or you can turn it around," she says. "You can decide: 'I don't have a job to tie me down anymore. Now I have the opportunity to do anything I want.'"

She also noted that at the time of her layoff from the bank, she saw the movie "Signs," a sci-fi thriller about crop circles, and was reminded of the many such configurations in Peru, where her father was born, which form the shape of certain animals when viewed from the sky; including spiders, hummingbirds, and monkeys. "Everyone loves a monkey. And grind, of course, comes from the process of grinding coffee beans to make espresso."

Her advice to other aspiring entrepreneurs?

"Take some classes in accounting and business, have experience in the industry, and research, research! But remember, no matter how many classes you take, the bottom line is, you still have to be willing to take chance."

The Monkey Grind Espresso Bar is located at 518 N. 85th St.