Need a little pick-me-up? Check out Market Square Coffee's piping hot Valerie Pollard! Paducah's own Baroness of the Coffee Bean brews the perfect balance between cappuccino and community. Stop in, say hello and grab a cup!Valerie Pollard, you are cute, cute, cute, no doubt about it! And I love all the different scents in your Market Square Coffee shop! Do you walk around with a coffee buzz all day long?
Yes, I have that wonderful coffee buzz each and every day!
Congratulations on the incredibly successful Lowertown Art & Music Festival this past weekend! You've been involved for several years now. What was your role this time?
I was fortunate to be able to book the musicians and work with them this year. Monica Bilak and David Boggs of the Zone Board (formerly Paducah Main Street) were wonderful to work with in planning the festival this year. It was much easier to have good people to share the workload.
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| Photo courtesy of Bizzyville |
Planning, planning, planning and having great volunteers. There are many hours spent planning the festival, but without the volunteers, we couldn’t do it. It also helped to have the best weather ever for the festival this year, and we had many compliments on the great Paducah hospitality from the artists and musicians. Way to go, Paducah!
Well, way to go Valerie and team! It was a fab festival! So tell us about Market Square Coffee. Where did you get the idea?
The opportunity for Market Square Coffee came when a previous business closed. The coffee bar was a secondary portion of that business. Louie Kirchhoff ran the coffee bar for about three months, then I bought it from him.
The decision really wasn’t that hard for me. I had always wanted to have my own business, and this was an easy transition. They always say one of the most important things for a business is “location, location, location.” And what better location that right next door to the best bakery in town? I have always been a big fan of coffee, now I’m a really big fan of coffee.
How do you describe your shop?I like to think that Market Square Coffee is a comfortable, homey place to visit. I have whole-bean coffee — over 50 varieties — and all the usual specialty drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, frozen lattes, frozen green tea fruit smoothies, in any combination.
Where do you get your coffee?
Most come from a small roaster in New Jersey. They roast the beans fresh when the order is placed — no sitting in a warehouse or on shelf for a year or longer!
What's your favorite blend?
My current favorite coffee is Peruvian. It is a single-origin bean from Peru. I am always trying new coffee beans and flavors, so my favorite changes!
What do you love most about the shop?
I enjoy all the people I meet. I am amazed by the number of folks who are traveling I-24 and get off to come downtown. Paducah seems to be on the way to lots of places. I have lots of regulars, many have become friends and have their morning cup of coffee at the shop. However, there is nothing better than finally being able to create wonderful foam for a cappuccino!
Your cappuccinos are awesome! And your folks were so cute as Santa and Mrs. Claus (right) in your shop last Christmas. How long have they been doing that?My dad has been Santa most of my life. He is a professional, naturally bearded Santa. I think it was more of a hobby for him until he got the real white hair and beard! Mom made her Mrs. Claus outfit and really became Mrs. Santa when Dad started his professional career. Dad keeps his beard year-round now and has fun being Santa to all the kids.
When I worked at Easter Seals West Kentucky, Mom and Dad came to our employee family picnic. One of the kids asked me why Santa was here and not at the North Pole. Fortunately it was summer, and I told him that Santa was vacationing on his farm and would soon return to the North Pole.
Good one, Valerie! You worked at Easter Seals? That's where hottie iDate of the Week Marilyn Grant works.
Yes, I was the vice president of development for six years. Then I left Easter Seals to become the community development planner in the City of Paducah's planning department. I worked on the Fountain Avenue Revitalization Project and the Art and Music Festival. I worked not quite 365 days at the city. I enjoyed working on the festival, but I also enjoyed the opportunity to work in a neighborhood, getting to know the folks that work there.
And now you've made Market Square Coffee its own fabulous neighborhood! Tell us about the Knitting, Crocheting and More group!
This group is lots of fun and meets at 1 p.m. each Wednesday. It began with two of my friends, Lisa Wynn and Jenifer Elder, meeting to knit. Then a couple more joined us and then we listed the event on iList Paducah and the group continues to grow!
Love that Web site!
Me too! Some come during their lunch break and we even have a couple of ladies who just join us each week to talk — they don’t knit or crochet!
June 14 is World Wide Knit in Public Day. Maureen, who owns With Ewe in Mind, our local yarn shop, is organizing the day for our local knitters. They'll start the day knitting at Market Square Coffee from 8-10 a.m. So come on down and join us with your knitting in hand — or just come to watch and learn.
And what about your book club?
The Market Square Coffee Book Club has been fun! We have read a wide assortment of books — some of which I probably wouldn’t have picked up to read on my own. We have read “The Devil in the White City,” by Erik Larson. It is a non-fiction book about how they built the World’s Fair in Chicago and a serial killer who lived there at the same time. We've also read “The Year of Living Biblically,” by AJ Jacobs, which is AJ’s story of actually living daily according to all the rules in the Bible for a year. There are many rules and laws. And we've read "Asylum," by Patrick McGrath, to list a few. We are currently reading Leif Enger’s new book, “So Brave, Young, and Handsome.” We meet on the third Monday of the month and 1 p.m., have a drink and talk about the books. It’s informal and fun.
Rock on! So what's it like dating in Paducah?I’m not much of a dater here in Paducah. I think I tend to just sit back and wait to see what life brings my way when it comes to relationships.
Is there a particular type of guy you'd like to meet?
I’m looking for someone who is supportive of all I am involved in…and patient and kind. I am pretty involved with several organizations and non-profits, which is something I really enjoy.
Like which ones?
I am currently president of the Market House Theatre board, first vice president of the Lions Club of Paducah, chair of the 51st Telethon of Stars, Easter Seals West Kentucky board member, member of the Urban Renewal & Community Development Agency board for the City of Paducah and recently appointed to the newly formed Zone Board. I also attend United Church of Paducah.
Oh, iDate of the Week Karen Winkel's church! She is one Holy Hottie!
The United Church of Paducah is a great church that welcomes people no matter where there are in the faith journey. Karen is a terrific pastor, and I really enjoy her sermons.
Totally! Tell us more about your Market House Theatre involvement.
I truly enjoy volunteering at Market House. I have acted on stage and worked back stage on several shows. Theatre was something that I have always enjoyed being a part of, and Market House Theatre was my first venture into the community when I moved to Western Kentucky.
What's next on your to-do list?
There’s the upcoming Bubble Q, which is a BBQ and champagne fundraiser for the Zone Board; a fundraising event this fall for Market House Theatre; BBQ on the River Media Cook-off; the 52nd Telethon of Stars and, of course, next year’s LowerTown Art & Music Festival.
Wow. Valerie, no wonder you own a coffee shop! I bet it's that easy access to caffeine that helps you keep up with everything! Perk on, Mz. Pollard!
