LiBs Café” is now open inside the Canfield Library. Owners Ben and Lindsay Ratner say they “are excited to bring their in-house roasted specialty coffees, as well as scratch-made pastries to the Canfield Branch Library.”
In addition to coffee and pastries, LiB’s offers a full espresso bar for lattes and cappuccinos, plus several loose-leaf tea and boba tea options. Ben notes, “We also carry several products that are made in the area. Cookies from the Orange Avocado and dog treats from Jax Snax dog treats just to name a few.”
LiB’s, which seems like a perfect name for a café located inside a library, is actually a composite of first initial of the names of members of their family. Ben and Lindsay are parents to Lilly, 13; Isabelle, 11; Simon, 4; and their newest addition, Brodie, born in October. Ben notes that they are a family of avid readers and feel very at-home in a library.
“We are so happy to welcome LiB’s Café to our Library family,” says Library Executive Director Aimee Fifarek. “Their enthusiasm and experience, coupled with in-house roasted coffees and homemade pastries, make a perfect combination. We wish them much success in this venture.”
LiB’s hours are currently 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Ben says family and community are important and he looks forward to being a part of the Canfield business community. They are hoping to be able to utilize the spacious outdoor setting behind the Canfield Library when weather and the pandemic permit. “When we are able to get back together, we look forward to the foot traffic,” Ben notes.
Ben became interested in the food industry as a young adult. He took classes at Kent State University in the wine program and became interested in culinary arts. He managed a winery and worked in restaurants throughout college. Lindsay had worked in the casual dining industry for over a decade and obtained experience and culinary certification from a program in Pennsylvania in 2012. The couple formed an LLC in the summer of 2014.
The Ratners purchased a roastery in Salem, Ohio, in 2015. Since then, they have expanded their business to include operations in the Best Western Dutch Village Inn and Greenford Christian Church with their latest venture inside the Canfield Library.
Contact LiB’s at: libsmarket@gmail.com or on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/libsmarket/.
Pick-up or curbside orders can be placed through @odekoapp.
