In the past, Bru Coffee Bar was a place loved by University of Rhode Island students and local residents. But after an unexpected closing, a new cafe has taken over the location and reopened on Oct. 15 as Brew 56.
The new owners, Bryce Moroni and Eric Santos, are both in their twenties and from Rhode Island. When it was confirmed that Bru was closing, the two partners found the listing for the building online and combined Moroni’s background in food service with Santos’ background in business. When they began setting up their own business, they felt it was an incredible location that just needed a paint job, deep cleaning and a general remodel, according to Moroni.
“I’d really like to bring whatever the community is looking for,” Moroni said. “Eric’s 25 and I’m 24. We still catch what’s relevant, and we are very open to suggestions.”
The vibe they are aiming to curate is the local comfortable and cozy coffee shop that isn’t too loud, according to Moroni. Before Bru closed, Moroni and Santos were able to collaborate with the previous owner for a little over a month to get a good footing before taking over.
“We did the whole thing in 60 days,” Moroni said. “Our landlord here is a business professor at URI and at Bryant [University]. Awesome guy; easily the best landlord I’ve worked with.”
The main challenges they encountered dealt with sticking to dates and times, according to Moroni. They were set to hypothetically open in September, but they needed the paperwork to be approved.
“All of the local agencies helped us out a lot,” Moroni said. “We are very thankful for South Kingstown; they helped us through it.”
This was the first time he and Santos had dealt with a building that wasn’t residential, one that was a true commercial business building, according to Moroni.
Neighboring residents who do not attend URI visit much earlier than the college kids, according to Moroni.
“The local residents come before the college kids are even awake,” Moroni said.
Rhode Island prioritizes spreading information through word of mouth, so they are keeping up with social media and are working on a print advertisement, according to Moroni. Though they have only been open for less than a month, they have gotten more customers at a higher rate than expected.
“I was a big fan of Bru before they closed,” fourth-year student Kristanna Licwola said. “I didn’t realize that they closed in the first place, but a friend of mine went to Brew 56 and recommended it.”
Brew 56 may be new to Fortin Road, but with the welcoming atmosphere and focus on community engagement, Moroni and Santos hope to deepen their ties with URI and surrounding communities through future engagements with clubs and events.
For now, they are focused on growing their business and training the new staff they have hired. With their energy and local roots, Brew 56 is hoping to create a new name for itself and have a fresh start for Fortin Road.
