Roots Cafe Gets Some Times Love

If you haven’t been to Roots Cafe (639A 5th Avenue, between 18th and 19th Streets) in a while, there’s a nice reminder about what a great neighborhood spot it is in the New York Times.

One of our favorite local coffee shops, particularly for its ambiance, Roots has been serving up coffee, tasty pastries and more substantial bites, and more since 2009, but about a year ago the ownership changed. If you didn’t notice, there’s a pretty good reason for that — current owner Amanda Neill quit her job in finance to take over the space when original owner Jamey Hamm left to focus on parenthood, and the two share similar outlooks, not wanting it “to become some French restaurant,” she tells the Times.

So though the ownership has changed, the space remains a hub of South Slope on 5th Avenue. The story provides a pretty sweet and accurate picture of what you’ll find if you visit Roots: familiar neighbors popping in, grown-ups and adults treating the space like their home, and possibly even some live music. Glad to have you here, Roots!