January 13, 2026
Our speaker today was Lori Richards, owner and operator of 1922 Coffee and Brew. Lori told us that she has 25+ years of retail management history which she said truly helps with her small business today.
Lori Richards, owner and operator of 1922 Coffee and Brew on Madison Avenue here in Painesville.
All her years in retail taught her that you need to talk to people, get their stories, share yours. When people come into 1922 she wants them to feel like they are guests, she calls them guests not customers. She wants her guests to feel at home, come in, stay, eat and drink a little, and talk. Many times when guests come in and she or Brian talk with them a while they find out that they might be there celebrating something and they celebrate together, or they just want to talk and relax. They strive to make 1922 a welcoming space where people feel safe and at home. Debbie Garafalo came over at the end of the meeting to let Lori know that is exactly how she felt when she went there. She stopped in for a bite to eat and to study for a test. She sat by the fire with her computer in hand and it was relaxing and easy to study for her.
Lori also told us that she truly believes that she is where is supposed to be. She recalled another time that happened in her life. When she worked for Build-A-Bear, it was during the time of the Chardon tragedy. As a footnote, she graduated from Chardon High School, so it really hit hard. Also her father had a tracking dog and he was the officer who tracked the shooter. So now she works at Build-A-Bear and families from Chardon came in to get a bear as a way to cope and get comfort. She said she truly felt that was where she was supposed to be at time. Now she feels 1922 is her place.
At 1922 they feel that it is very important to be connected to community! Their small business needs the community support as well to stay healthy. Lori plans events for children, they have pop-up boutiques, they give back to the community any way they can.
Lori also shared that they purchased the ice cream shop right next door to 1922 and hope to open it fairly soon. They had a few mechanical and cosmetic things that needed to done before they could open, but hopefully those are all fixed! She hopes to open in the next couple of months, Wicked Cone Creamery. She is a big Wicked fan hence the name.
If you haven't been to 1922 Coffee and Brew, stop in. They offer not only good coffee but great breakfasts and lunches and they even do a baked potato night once a week. Plus they have a full bar in the evening. Make sure to watch for the opening of Wicked Cone Creamery.
Lots of happy smiles from Lori and Dan Garry, President.
Our next meeting is January 20, 2026 in the barn at the Lake County History Center. Our speaker will be Steve Howell, from Lights on the Lake at Lake Shore Park in Ashtabula.