Laura Ly, a Glenside resident, is planning to open a new coffee shop called Recess in downtown Glenside by the fall.

The new shop will be at the former location of MIY Artistry, 107 S Easton Road, between the former PNC Bank building and Game Junkie.

Ly has received zoning, water, and sewer approvals from Cheltenham Township. Once the property’s landlord stamps their approval, she said she’ll begin putting the space together.

Ly, whose son attends Copper Beech Elementary School (Abington School District), was in real estate prior to the pandemic.

“Things were going well, and then I lost my whole company. I fell back on my bartending career,” she said.

The idea for a coffee shop came to her one Saturday in the spring while visiting Game Junkie with her son.

“I started thinking that I’d love to get a cup of coffee while I waited,” Ly said. “I always wanted to have a little coffee shop. I’ve had the name saved for over 20 years, so when the opportunity arose, I took it. The location is so ideal. It’s right by the train station, the buses, the parade route, and it’s close enough for Arcadia students.”

Ly said she’s been lucky enough to be a part of Glenside when Arcadia University was still Beaver College.

“Glenside is full of tradition, and this is my opportunity to be a part of that,” she said. “I’m hoping to be a breath of fresh air. We don’t have a coffee shop when it seems like every other neighborhood has one.”

“It’s all going to be gourmet top-quality coffee and light snacks,” she said. “I’m hoping to create an adult ‘recess’, so to speak. I want to be a quick service for the community, and I also want to be a refuge for the young professionals and students in the area.”

Earlier this month, Ly launched a GoFundMe to help cover startup costs. $200 has been raised at the time of this writing.

We will be in touch with updates. Stay tuned.

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Photo: coldwellbankerhomes.com