As James and Lina Jacobs prepare to open Magpie Café in the quaint shop near the Perkins Road overpass formerly occupied by Perkins Road Parlour, the couple says the café will be a blend of each of their greatest passions. For James, it’s a great cup of coffee. For Lina, it’s seasonal foods from local sources. “My philosophy is: I’d rather pour a coffee down the drain than push a bad cup across the counter,” James says. Magpie Café will feature a variety of coffee options—from good old cups of black coffee to “true cold-brewed and Italian coffees”—with beans from a master roaster in Portland, Ore. As for the food at Magpie Café, you won’t find anything fried on the menu, and you won’t find any soda, either. The menu of primarily soups, salads and sandwiches will change daily, depending on what’s in season and available from local farmers and bakers. “The whole idea is all natural—organic when possible—and local,” Lina says. The Jacobs expect to complete renovations and inspections on the 1,800-square-foot building at 3205 Perkins Road in time for an opening during the week of March 19. Magpie Café will be open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Along with a focus on fresh and local, all of the to-go containers, coffee cups and silverware will be made of compostable materials, says the couple. A small retail area for locally made products will also be a part of the café. The Jacobs secured the lease on the building shortly after Perkins Road Parlour closed in September. More information, photos of the ongoing renovations and regular updates are all available at the Magpie Café Facebook page here. —Steve Sanoski
Magpie Cafe opening soon
