The threads of time and distance are entwined in the brick building on the corner of East Eighth and New Hampshire streets. Older Lawrencians may remember having their cars fixed and refueled there during the '30s to the mid-'70s.
Today the building is known as Marketplace, and the Mirth Internet Cafe occupies Unit 7. You can enter through the spacious quadrangular atrium on New Hampshire or through the airy brick passageway on East Eighth, also the entrance to the Magic Carpet Traveler, a travel agency and traveler's boutique. It's an ideal pit stop for personal refueling and for taking an opportunity to dream about and explore the possibilities of visiting exotic locations and foreign climes.
The cafe's owner, Robert Wilson did quite a bit of traveling in his early years. He was educated in Vienna, Austria, where his father worked for the United Nations and he made frequent visits to Lawrence to visit his grandfather. When Wilson acquired the Cafe in September, 2005, he decided to call it "Mirth," a derivative of the Middle English word "merry."
"I wanted the place to have a whimsical, light-hearted and fun atmosphere," he said. "The word 'Internet' in the title is rarely used now, because we're known more for our drinks and food, and most places in town now have Internet access anyway."
Wilson has managed to retain most of the original red brickwork, the ochre brick floor tiles and the patterned, pressed tin ceiling tiles, reminiscent of the Victorian era. He's added fun designer lights, which blend subtly with the brick and furnishings. There's plenty of seating, including comfortable sofas and armchairs, and light classical music plays in the background. Even when the place is busy, it doesn't feel overcrowded or noisy. The chatter is absorbed by the high ceilings and open passageways. The Internet/office area is at the rear. It's furnished with a larger table, computer stations, desktops, a fax machine and printer. Regular customers who purchase a beverage can use the Internet free, but there's a charge for others.
The food and beverage side of the business has grown steadily through word of mouth. General Manager Greg Renck, a trained chef, ensures the food is made from scratch with fresh ingredients. He takes pride in the family atmosphere among the staff and the cheerful and friendly service they provide for customers.
Barista Kelley Rushing, from Shawnee, is a recent addition to the Cafe family. She was enrolled in the African Studies Department at Kansas University.
"I fell in love with Africa when I watched 'Animal Planet' as a child," she said. "I've dreamed of going there ever since."
After 18 months of college, she realized she was more of a "hands on" person and now plans to work with AmeriCorps in an inner-city school in Seattle next year. She hopes to join the Peace Corps eventually and serve in Africa.
Her fascinating story and passion for community service nearly wiped the tea order from my mind. Although hot tea doesn't appear on the printed menu, there's a wide variety of Republic of Tea flavors displayed on the counter. The English breakfast tea bag was placed in a large ceramic mug with boiling hot water. Milk is kept in the refrigerator and available on request.
Coffee drinkers have a great selection with daily and seasonal specials like "Pumpkin in the Night," with spice syrup, coffee, a shot of espresso and steamed milk. There's also "Bee's Knees," a creamy latte lightly sweetened with honey, and "Mayan Gold," a sweet orange mocha with a hint of spice.
Seasoned travelers and regular customers Bruce Curtis and Marianne Lonergan Curtis attested to the quality of the offerings.
"It's a great place to relax and focus," they agreed.
As we hugged our drinks, the couple talked about their adventure in Scotland.
"We stayed in Traquair House, just south of Edinburgh. It dates back to 1107, and claims to be the oldest continuously inhabited house in Scotland. We were so captivated by its history and magical, romantic atmosphere, we applied for a license and got married there."
The Mirth Cafe combines its own magical allure with a sense of history, and it's a pleasant place to find refreshment.
Coffee: 5
Tea: 3
Ambiance: 5
Service: 5
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Kookamooka (MJ Browne) says…
Can I shoot myself in the head now?