BEVERLY — Bridgeport Coffee Co. opened Monday morning in North Beverly — the fourth location for the chain founded at 3101 S. Morgan St.
The newest location at 9135 S. Western Ave. replaces the former Hardboiled Coffee Co., the independent coffee shop operated by Beverly resident Gregg Wilson before closing on July 24.
Bridgeport Coffee owner Mike Pilkington said last month that he wasn't scared off by the struggles of the previous tenant. In fact, his latest coffee shop expands the footprint of the store by taking over the adjacent retail shop immediately south.
Pilkington said he'd been scouting locations in Beverly for three years before stumbling upon the spot along the busy stretch of Western Avenue. He soon fell in love with the 1960s style of the building along with the opportunity to be neighbors with the Original Rainbow Cone and Beverly Bike and Ski.
Bridgeport Coffee opened in its first location in 2004. The owners expanded in 2013, adding a location inside the Hyde Park Art Center in August and a kiosk inside the Roosevelt Collection mall in the South Loop in October.
The company prides itself on its "farm-to-cup" concept, importing coffee beans directly from a grower in El Salvador. Pilkington said he also promotes a positive atmosphere throughout his coffee shop, combining fast Wi-Fi with reclaimed wooden tabletops.
The Beverly location is open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends. Many of the coffee house's blends are named for the Bridgeport neighborhood, including roasts such as Bubbly Creek, Stockyard and Mayor's Blend.
"The vibe in the shop will reflect who we are as a company," Pilkington said.
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