MADAWASKA, Maine — Nordic Espresso, a shop specializing in coffee, tea and pastries, opened its doors last month.
The shop’s walls now showcase paintings, and business owner Stefan Dudek hopes it can eventually expand into an adjacent space where people can socialize, play music and perform.
“Young people don’t have a place to go,” Dudek said, “especially in the winter. So here they can come sit down, have tea or anything they like, and they can have fun.”
If it does expand, it would be part of a small trend in Aroostook County. Another coffee shop opened earlier this year in Mars Hill with a goal of giving teens a safe space to hang out.
The new business in Madawaska includes a large mural painted by a young resident who recently redesigned the town’s welcome sign, as well as artwork created by Dudek’s late wife, who was a painter.
“She did very well. We lost her three and a half years ago,” he said, adding that he has around 500 of her paintings.
Dudek opened his shop after traveling from the northwest corner of the country all the way to America’s most northeastern town of Madawaska last December. He first moved to Maine to be closer to his son, who also owns property in Madawaska. Dudek said he and his son were going to go into business together, but after a few months of planning, he said his son decided to not move forward with this plan right away.
Dudek said that in the future, his son hopes to open a deli down the street.
“I said to him that even if he opens it with a coffee business, too, it’s healthy competition,” Dudek said.
So Dudek, having already moved to Madawaska, decided to strike out on his own and open Nordic Espresso. Dudek has traveled across the world, and said he chose the name Nordic, which comes from the Swedish word “norden” or “north,” in recognition of Madawaska’s spot as the state’s northernmost town.
Dudek first came to America from Poland about 40 years ago. At that time, he and his wife came with an 18-month-old baby and $400 in their pockets. He soon moved to Seattle, where he said he started a transportation business.
He has now been a U.S. citizen for 38 years.
“I appreciate this country,” he said. “If you want it, you can do it.”
The transportation company offered travel that Dudek said was more upscale than a cab, but not as extravagant as a limo. He said he transported celebrities who did not want to be seen while traveling about the city.
And it was at this company that he met a coffee taster who traveled the world. Dudek said this meeting piqued his interest in the field. Dudek explained that many factors can affect the taste of coffee and espresso, from the beans themselves to the grinder and the machine used for brewing.
He currently has one employee at the shop, but is actively looking for additional help and is looking forward to teaching others how to make espresso.
“There’s an art to it,” he said.
After spending over half a year on the other side of the country, Dudek said he enjoys Madawaska and does not miss the traffic of Seattle. He added that the local business community on Main Street has been welcoming and supportive.
“Over here it’s more quiet,” he said. “It’s peaceful, and a lot of people are friendly.”