Since 2019, Paper Plane Coffee Co. has served up standout brews in Montclair with a signature travel-inspired vibe. Now, the beloved cafe is landing in a second location.
Co-owner Jonathan Echeverry told NJ Advance Media on Monday that Paper Plane Coffee Co. is opening a second location in Maplewood.
Paper Plane Coffee Co. announced the expansion in an Instagram post on Sunday.
The new location is set to open in the space formerly occupied by Nelson’s Inc., an auto repair shop that closed over the winter.
“I’ve kind of been in love with the Maplewood area for a while and love how walkable and how quaint it is,” Echeverry said. “I would just look at this building and think it was such a cool building.”
Echeverry says he hopes the shop will be open by the end of summer.
Like the original Montclair shop, Echeverry says the Maplewood location will feature Paper Plane’s signature travel-inspired aesthetic. While the flagship cafe has an airplane theme, the new spot will have a twist on that. Echeverry plans to incorporate design elements that honor the building’s past as an auto repair shop.
Paper Plane Coffee Co. in Montclair is one of the best coffee shops in New Jersey. 11/15/2023Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance
The new space is more than 7,000 square feet, which Echeverry wants to utilize by hosting artist and maker’s market on the weekends.
“I’m big on community and I want to make the best use of the space,” Echeverry said. “Lend a hand to people that like me, I started at an artist market.”
Even with the Maplewood shop still in development, Echeverry has his sights set on continued growth for the Paper Plane Coffee Co. brand, hinting at future expansions down the line.
With an already devoted following — and the No. 3 ranking on NJ.com’s list of best coffee shops in the state — Paper Plane’s arrival further establishes Maplewood as one of the hottest food towns in the state. The new cafe joins a wave of exciting additions to the town’s evolving food scene, alongside recent openings like Corner Slices and seafood spot Perla.
Stories by Lauren Musni
Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.
Lauren Musni may be reached at lmusni@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Laurengmusni and on Instagram. Find NJ.com on Facebook.