Coffee, Comics, Cuisine, Culture All In The Mix At Jester’s

By Steve Bonanno

A grinning jester welcomes patrons from the entryway, while the smell of freshly brewed coffee lingers in the air. Meanwhile, artwork and comic book memorabilia decorate the walls, beckoning visitors to sit and enjoy everything Jester’s Coffee Shop at 331 Federal Road in Brookfield has to offer.

Newtown resident John Munro started renovations on Jester’s last September, and opened it in April with a goal of  competing against big national coffee shop chains.

“I wanted a local place that could provide a better product at a better price,” said Mr Munro, “and I feel like this is a good, busy location to do that.”

Mr Munro also said he wanted to have a place where his two sons, Connor and Dylan, could work. Jester’s has six employees, some of which are Newtown residents.

Mr Munro believes that the quality of his ingredients and products sets Jester’s apart from the big-time franchises. Jester’s menu consists of sandwiches and breakfast items made using mostly local or regional products.

“We use Boar’s Head deli meats and bagels from Bagelman,” said Mr Munro, who has experience working for restaurants and catering companies.

A self-proclaimed “passionate cook,” Mr Munro took great pleasure in developing some of the more popular menu items at Jester’s, including the fresh mozzarella, tomato, and pesto on ciabatta bread, the buffalo chicken and veggie wraps, and their breakfast sandwiches.

Jester’s also provides the young entrepreneur with a place to combine his love for good food with a passion for comic books. Two large racks of comics are on display for customers to read, and framed comic book art decorates Jester’s walls.

Mr Munro also has a sizable comic book collection that he is currently selling via eBay.

This taste of comic book culture helps give Jester’s the fun atmosphere that Mr Munro was going for when he created the name.

“I was looking for an Italian coffee shop name that made it sound like it is a fun place to go,” said Mr Munro. “I also saw opportunity for some good trademarks like the jester face.”

Mr Munro maintains a fun atmosphere into the evening every Thursday by hosting live music at Jester’s.

Currently adding to the décor is photography by Royal Scott, which can be purchased at Jester’s for a limited time.

Like most coffee shops, Jester’s offers tables, chairs, and couches for patrons. But there is also a large conference table, which is available for larger community groups to hold meetings, said Mr Munro.

For those who like to try new coffee places, Jester’s adds one more to the list.

For additional information, jesterscoffee.com, 203-546-8936 or follow Jester’s Coffee Shop on Facebook.