Warren Scott A WARM DRINK IN A COZY LOCATION — Kaitlyn Alt, owner of the 87 Coffee Co. Collective; and her staff were welcomed to Wellsburg with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by members of the Brooke County Area Chamber of Commerce and city officials.

WELLSBURG — The owner of the 87 Coffee Co. Collective at 130 Sixth St. said she has set out to provide not only a source of warm and cold beverages and a bite to eat but also a place where people will feel comfortable hanging out.

Kaitlyn Alt invited everyone attending a ribbon cutting conducted by the Brooke County Area Chamber of Commerce into her shop, which includes furniture and tables where customers may have a seat while sipping coffee, tea or one of the shop’s many “Seasonal Sips” and nibbling on a breakfast sandwich, cookie, muffin or other treat.

Alt also has established a play area in one corner to occupy children while their parents chat and a bookshelf that serves as a free library, where visitors may exchange a book for one of their own.

A Wheeling native, she said she’s always wanted to own and operate a business that instilled a community spirit and has found Wellsburg a good location to do that.

Patrons may recognize some of Alt’s menu from the Northern Belles food truck she has brought since last year to Brooke Hills Park and other locations.

The Seasonal Sips include cold drinks containing a mix of special flavors, from the Spring Forward — which contains Mountain Dew and a mix of fruit flavored syrups — to the Full Bloom, a lemonade with multiple fruit flavorings.

Alt said one of the most popular is the banana-flavored Monkey Around, which she said tastes more like banana bread than the stronger flavor many associate with artificially flavored banana candy.

There’s also a handful of sweet drinks to appeal to children.

Alt and her staff also serve up lattes, Americano, cold brewed and hot drip coffee, green tea and chai tea lattes and hot chocolate.

For the hungry, there are sandwiches made to order with sausage, bacon and egg on English muffins or bagels and cookies, muffins, cinnamon rolls and other pastries.

Many of the sweets are supplied by local businesses, including Oliver’s Oven of Follansbee and Backroad Bakery of Bethany.

Alt said she is proud to lend a hand to local businesses, particularly those run by women, and has established

a gift shop stocked with clothing decorative items and other goods produced by several.

She expressed thanks to her hard-working staff and her husband, Brandon, for their effort and support in getting the shop opened.

Long-time residents will recognize the business’ location as the former Brooke Glass gift outlet.

Alt said starting April 1, the shop’s hours will be from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.