Airstream trailer to house Camp Washington coffee shop


A new coffee shop, Mom N’ Nem, is slated to open at 3132 Colerain Ave. near Camp Washington Chili in early 2017. The shop will be inside of a 1969 31-foot Land Yacht Airstream trailer, and will have an adjoining coffee garden where patrons can enjoy a fresh espresso beverage and relax.

“There are plenty of biergartens, but you don’t really see a coffee garden,” says co-owner Tony Ferrari.

Mom N’ Nem will be the second coffee-related venture for Tony and his brother Austin Ferrari. The duo own another small coffee shop in San Francisco called Provender, as well as Hillside Supper Club with fellow chef Jonathan Sutton, also in San Francisco.

“My brother and I are doing this for my mom, Theresa,” Tony says. “She has been a contractor her whole life. We call her superwoman.”

Theresa Ferrari will be overseeing the trailer renovation and will also serve as general manager once the shop opens, which takes its name from a long-standing Ferrari family saying.

“When we were kids, whenever my dad would call he’d say ‘How’s Mom and them?’” The name seemed fitting for a family venture, and the shop logo will even feature a smiling characterization of Theresa’s face.

The Ferraris have yet to settle on the coffee roaster that will supply the shop with fresh beans. They plan to have one main roaster, but will also do a quarterly rotation of guest roasters to keep things interesting.

“We will have a focus on natural espresso,” Ferrari says. “We’ll serve minimally and naturally processed coffees, and there are only so many roasters that do this well and consistently.”

The shop will also serve baked goods from Tom McKenna. The menu will include toasts, pastries and an exclusive dish called “The Dirty ‘Nati,” which is a savory pastry featuring goetta.

The Ferraris have been working closely with architect Daniel Ewald to develop the rendering and design of the space, which will capitalize on the retro vibe that the trailer invites. Ferrari hopes that the space will serve as a community gathering place and a catalyst for new development in Camp Washington.

“This is a project for the community that we hope will bring more opportunity,” Ferrari says.

The Ferraris have worked closely with Joe Gorman, Paul Rudemiller and others from the Camp Washington Community Board throughout the planning process, and they're grateful for the warm welcome by the Camp Washington community.

The stationary coffee trailer will be the first of its kind in Cincinnati.

“I’m always taking a risk, but I know it will work,” Ferrari says.

Ultimately, Ferrari is driven by a desire to bring about new vibrancy to the West Side. “It’s important to give neighborhoods more opportunity, and we need to showcase this community," he says.
 
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Read more articles by Kamal Kimball.

Kamal Kimball is a freelance writer and co-founder of Ampersand Creative Services.