The Dwelling Place, a Christian coffee shop, is planning to open in the former Village & Venue location on Walnut Street in May. The shop will offer coffees, baked goods and Christian retail items.
“This is something that has been on my heart for as long as I can remember,” April Spence said. “My mom was saved at a Christian coffee shop in 1974, and I grew up knowing the Lord. All my life, I heard about this coffee shop where there would be Bible studies and gatherings. My mom getting saved started a snowball reaction as my dad was also saved. When I got married, my husband, Jesse, then our children were saved.”
Spence stated that her mother worked in a bookstore at their church for many years and she would help her sometimes. While working there, Spence fell in love with the concept of a gathering place with both coffee and Christian books that would also have a place for Bible study and other social community gatherings.
“My mom passed away two years ago, and God started placing it on my hear that the time is now, so here we are,” Spence said. “We plan to offer coffee, lattes, cappuccinos, matcha, teas and booked goods as well as Christian new and used books plus apparel and gifts.”
Spence is originally from Pennsylvania, but her husband has been coming to the Milford area his whole life as his grandparents had a place here. The couple moved here in 2018.
“I have been a homeschooling mom of three for the last 18 years, but before that I was a fulfillment agent at Sovereign Bank for 10 years,” Spence said. “My husband has a degree in computer systems and electronic technologies with a bunch of technical certifications. He works full-time as a senior sales engineer. We have three children, Cohen, who is 20; Ella, who is 18 and Myla who is 16.”
The biggest challenge Spence faces is learning how to be in business as it is totally new to the couple.
“We are stepping out in faith,” Spence said. “We are most looking forward to meeting new people and being a part of the community, spreading the gospel and working with my family.”
Spence is still in the planning process for store hours but hope to be open between 6 AM and 7 PM most days with varying closing times. They do plan to have longer hours on Friday and Saturday.
“We are so excited to be part of this community and look forward to meeting everyone when we open sometime early May,” Spence said.
The Dwelling Place will be located at 27 South Walnut Street, Suite 104 in Milford. More information can be found on Facebook.
