Twenty-five years ago, when we first proposed Edwards Addition, it rather hard to swallow all of the controversy.
“Why aren’t you putting garages at the front?”
“What do you mean small homes right next to large ones?”
“Townhomes? A store? Are you kidding me?”
City Council meetings were packed, voices were raised, and many neighbors feared the plan just wasn’t right for our little hometown of Monmouth. One planning commissioner even said that while she admired everything about our proposal—because it reminded her of Europe—she just didn’t think Monmouth was ready for such a radical idea.
The most controversial piece? Neighborhood commercial. A principle of our neighborhood was simple: you shouldn’t need to get in a car to go to a park, grab a cup of coffee, or even walk to work. (The rule of thumb is: people will walk ten minutes instead of driving.)
Back in 1999, that vision wasn’t exactly embraced. Flyers circulated around town with a big arrow pointing to the corner of Gwinn and Edwards declaring: “7-Eleven going here.”
We had to laugh. Our little team—Martha Anderson, Eve Olsen, and Eric Olsen—saw instead the potential for a neighborhood designed to make life richer, community warmer, and homes more beautiful.
Of course, we underestimated how long it would take. But here we are, finally close to breaking ground on that long-imagined corner store. And no, it’s not a convenience store with 64-ounce Big Gulps. Instead, it’s something far better: Prismatic Coffee Roaster.
Already a beloved destination at Pringle Creek Community, Prismatic is planning to open its second location here in Edwards Addition by next spring/early summer. And for those who can’t wait, they’ll be rolling out their royal blue coffee truck on weekend mornings. Founded in Salem, Prismatic has earned a loyal following for its precise roasting methods, community-minded service and thoughtful atmosphere. This second location will build on that legacy, offering the same high-quality coffee in a new space that’s intentionally designed to bring people together. Follow @prismatic.coffee.
So keep your eyes open—and trade that 7-Eleven for the very real aroma of freshly roasted coffee. Evan Delgado and Ariel Ellis would love to welcome you with a cup.
