In a recent story, highlighting a trip to the new Method Coffee and Tea Lounge in Emory Village, Emory Wheel reporter, Ranjani Prabhakar, tells this story about its predecessors…

“It is interesting to see such a progressive shop emerge as a consequence of its predecessors. Caribou Coffee closed its doors only two years ago because the cozy space didn’t fit into an expansive corporate plan. The company’s new requirements called for drive-thru windows and massive square footage, neither of which came with the Emory Village setting.

Caribou’s successor, Inman Perk, only occupied the Village space for about a year. The small café was only filling the space as a temporary location before it too moved on to a bigger space in the nearby Toco Hills shopping center.

With luck, Method will not also become a victim of circumstance or move on to a bigger and so-called “better” location. The intimate space suits it.”

Wow…that sure is a different story than the one told to us by the owner of Inman Perk back in May, which involved $20,000 in needed renovation and a predatory landlord.

So 1) Where did the above story come from? and 2) who’s blowing smoke?

It looks like a new coffee place called “Method Coffee Bar and Tea Lounge” is moving into the Emory Village spot most recently occupied by Inman Perk. I snapped the above pic on a recent walk by the location.  I believe the brown paper bags held by the gentleman on the left are filled with coffee beans.

I certainly hope that Method has resolved the $20k grease trap issue with the landlord that Inman Perk’s owner raised to Decatur Metro after they moved out.

Good luck Method!  May your grease be minimal and your Emory students plentiful.

So I noticed last night that Inman Perk had deserted its spot at the old Caribou location in Emory Village, next to Everybody’s, and was ready to chalk it up to students favoring the Starbucks down the plaza.

But a check of the coffee shop’s blog tells a different, story.

“Sadly, our torrid love affair with Emory Village has come to an early end. Last week we learned of a failing infrastructure problem in our building that is beyond our control . . . and unfortunately, this has required us to close down our doors at Emory. We know it was a short stint, but we’ll miss you! We’ve had a great time getting to know the Emory community . . . and we hope you’ll bridge the short gap and come visit us in Inman Park!”

Uh oh.  Failing infrastructure?  That’s not good.

That building is one of 4 ( I think) historic buildings in that strip (the other 3 are Everybody’s, Supercuts, and Evolve) that were to be preserved when the monster redevelopment of Emory Village occurred.  I wonder how this new development changes things…because Druid Hills has some pretty darn strict historic preservation ordinances, but failing infrastructure is failing infrastructure.

Keep your eyes open.