Tastes like nostalgia to me.

I used to hit Next Door Espresso almost daily when I worked at The Spokesman-Review. The deli’s front door is on the opposite corner of the block from The S-R’s front door, so I could leave my desk, walk downstairs, stroll down the street into the deli, grab a coffee or a bowl of chili or a sandwich or a yogurt or a bag of popcorn or a bottle of juice and be back at my desk within 10 minutes. Fred and Shelby always saw me coming – always knew if it was a triple latte kind of day or a PB&J with bacon afternoon.

Sadly, when my days at the paper ended, so did my daily habit. I started working from home and had to start making my own coffee and sandwiches. I missed my strolls down the street for a friendly “Hello, here’s your chili, now get back to work.” But you know how it goes. Life changes and you have to change with it – even if it means you have to make your own lunch.

It’s been 4 years since I left The Good Paper. Four years since I last walked into Next Door – a fact that I still can’t believe, but something I chalk it up to two things: 1.) I’m almost never downtown on weekdays during the daylight; 2.) I was so addicted to the easy-access satisfaction that the only thing I could do was quit cold turkey. Mmmm, turkey.

Miraculously, last week my to-do list included a stop in the old neighborhood during business hours so I took the chance to stop in. There were hugs. There was a rapid-fire catch up session. There was my coffee card … in the same spot I’d left it, four years ago.

I guess you can go home again, and get a damn fine latte at the same time.

You’ll find Next Door Espresso at 903 W. Riverside. Tell ‘em I’ll be back soon!