ELLINWOOD — With at comfortable and family friendly atmosphere, the beautifully decorated Fire Escape Coffee House, in downtown Ellinwood, has reopened as a community gathering place for all ages. The shop serves regular coffee as well as specialty drinks and snacks, all staffed by volunteers.
The non-profit will begins its new direction  on Feb. 17 and will be opened from 3-5:30 p.m. each week day for the entire community. On Saturdays from 7-9 p.m., it will be open for youth.
The new board of directors hopes to eventually open another room for a daycare and nursery service, said volunteer Buzz Birney. “We’ve got big dreams.”
It is available for rent for half a day for $50 and $100 for a full day. For any church related activity, it is free.
The coffee shop began in 2007 as a youth center. Birney said that volunteers did a tremendous amount of work to restore the building.
Birney said that over the years, it faded out and wasn’t working as a youth center.
Young people are welcome in the shop in after school, but Birney said that those 6th grade and under should be accompanied by an adult.
The center has a number of fundraisers scheduled, including a grocery card from Dillons which returns a certain percentage to the center.
They are currently adequately staffed with volunteers.
From 6:30-7 p.m. each Monday, there is a prayer meeting at the center. On Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, there is a teen girls meeting. Beginning on Feb. 21, a twelve week Bible study group will meeting each Friday.
The Fire Escape is a 501 3c non-profit and all contributions are tax deductible. No alcohol is allowed and there is no smoking.
Fore more information, call 620-562-8304.