The Most Social Hub in Town

As customers enter the only local cafe near the Bloomsburg campus, Fog and Flame, the scent of strong and smoky fragrances of coffee filled the air. Fog and Flame's (F&F) rich aromatic coffee was being made in a vintage looking cafe where there are nature and abstract paintings on each wall. Books and mugs lay out on a crimson assorted brick wall near the entrance door. Standing at the ordering counter, two workers chat with other customers (possibly their friends too) behind the bar while they are stirring up cups of coffee for the customers that were there before us. Noticing the new customers in line, one worker quickly finished up their chat and their last order to come take their order. He was kind and understanding that they were new to the cafe and kindly gave them suggestions.

Owner Aaron Rush

F&F is a craft and coffee shop near the Bloomsburg University campus. It is a social hub that is usually full of Bloomsburg University students but local Bloomsburg residents also come to take a taste of the cafe's lattes and cappuccinos. F&F provides a relaxing and calm environment that invites people to come read, study, socialize and drink really good creamy coffee with nice music in the background.

Crimson Brick Wall

Aaron Rush, owner of Fog and Flame, started his business with a friend , Josh Bumgardner, and with the money he and his friend saved from working regular day time jobs. "I guess I'm just naturally entrepreneurial" Aaron wittily claims. He mentions that he is also the oldest in his family so being the independent man he is, walking the path of starting a business was a pivotal decision in his life. Fresh roasted coffee at F&F are from a coffee roaster in Philadelphia named Gryphon. Aaron and the owner of Gryphon, Richard Mattis, are friendly companions and now friendly business partners. Through friendly companionship, Richard guides Aaron with his cafe business and provides basic material for the cafe. After two years of rough times after its opening, Josh leaves Aaron with the business; Although this does not stop the creative entrepreneurial Aaron from continuing the business. F&F makes its way as the top cafe in the area and the most social hub in town. "One thing in business is [that] you have to always remember to treat it as a marathon and not a sprint...to show up everyday and grind out the work and it's not always pretty but it's what needs to be done for the long term" Aaron reassures after reminiscing the cafe's years of hardship and success.

Employee Ian

F&F's Cappuccino

After some struggling times, F&F cafe hits the top with popularity in Bloomsburg. Loyal customers enters the shop each morning while loyal employees at F&F make their delicious coffee and small snacks. Cody, an employee at F&F, was one of the first few customers that went to F&F when they first opened. Cody says enthusiastically, "I like to be social...I love working here." Amicable with every customer and always eager, Cody communicates with everyone gleefully. Cody is not the only employee at F&F that is friendly and easygoing. Ian Stanley, another friendly and loyal employee that works at F&F. For the five years that F&F has been opened, Ian worked there almost half of the time it has been opened. As more people come in through the cafe, one wearing a Bloomsburg University hoodie, walk up to the ordering counter and the employees greet them with smiles and start having genial conversations. Staff members at F&F all have unique skills and techniques that makes them sociable to the customers that come in the cafe. Having any expertly coffee techniques is not needed because their coffee expert manager goes through the routines and teaches them the techniques to make their delicious coffees.

F&F's cappuccinos and flavored lattes, Ian indicates them as the most popular and satisfactory drinks on their menu. From time to time F&F holds up events for the customers to enjoy and continue to socialize. Open mic night and live music brings people together and sets the mood for an evening of joy and relaxation. F&F is the place to go for fun, studying, and to de-stress.