Northcott promises new life for familiar shop

By Don Nelson

Kellen Northcott fondly remembers Java Man Espresso from his days growing up in the Methow Valley. Even then, the little coffee-and-burritos shop in downtown Winthrop was a local fixture.

“I came here a lot as a kid,” said Northcott, son of Bart and Sue Northcott. “I have great memories.”

Northcott is now in the position of creating memories as the new owner of Java Man, which is just a few steps from the four-way stop at Riverside Avenue. “I want to restore the life of it,” he said.

Java Man reopened last week after Northcott and his friends/partners, Andy and Anthony Lewis, cleaned, painted, rearranged things and added some furniture in the cozy space, which somehow seems brighter now. Its big windows give drinkers and diners a great view of Winthrop’s street life.

Java Man offers Blue Star coffee, and the burritos will be made with fresh, natural ingredients, Northcott said. “It will be quick, easy, healthy food,” he said.
Northcott intends to expand the menu to include more sandwich choices and things like quinoa salad.

Northcott is familiar with the food service industry. He has helped his parents’ with their catering service in the past, and spent the last three years as a server at the Sun Mountain Lodge restaurant. “I loved doing that,” he said.

Northcott said he bought Java Man, and brought in the Lewis brothers, because “I wanted to do something for myself, but not by myself.” Andy Lewis was formerly a chef at East 20 Pizza in Winthrop.

Java Man regulars have started coming back since the shop re-opened, Northcott said. He wants Java Man to feel comfortable for locals and visitors alike.

“We want to create a welcoming, community atmosphere — we want people to meet people and have a good time,” Northcott said.

Northcott, a 2006 graduate of Liberty Bell High School, has lived other places but said he was inevitably drawn back to the Methow Valley. “I love it here,” he said. “Community is a hard thing to find, and the Methow has it.”

Things got so busy one day last week that Java Man ran out of food. “That won’t happen again,” Northcott said.

Java Man is open from 6 a.m. – 3 p.m., seven days a week at 94 Bridge St.