Coffee, beer, wine and a dog-friendly patio

Madison’s Coffee offers it all

by Eren Tataragasi

Madison’s Coffee House, which serves coffee, ice cream, wine and beer, and hosts a bevy of events each month, is located at 7878 Idlewild Road, Indian Trail. Photos courtesy of Dawn Stodolski

INDIAN TRAIL — It’s been 16 months since Madison’s Coffee House opened at 7878 Idlewild Road, but owner Dawn Stodolski said too many people still don’t know the shop is there.

“I think a lot of people just have no idea where we are,” Stodolski said about the shop’s location nestled next to the Food Lion shopping center. “We’re right past that and just a mile and a half from the 485 interchange.”

But while some people still may not know the shop exists, many visitors flock to the little shop for their coffees, free WiFi and delicious ice cream from Ashby’s Sterling Ice Cream in Michigan.

The store also is very family and kid friendly with chalkboard and magnetic walls, games and lots of activities.

“I think a lot of people see a coffee house and think it’s for adults, but we have lot of mom groups coming now and have a kids area, plus beer and wine, and I just don’t think people have really noticed,” Stodolski said. “But we have a lot of events coming up.”

One of the shops signature events is its “What’s So Funny?” open mic comedy night where emerging comedians from the area come out and test some of their best one-liners, and a more seasoned, well known comedian closes out each set.

“We’ve had OK turnout for each event,” Stodolski said.

The next comedy night is planned for June 30 at 9 p.m.

The shop also will have a Karaoke night June 23, beginning at 7 p.m. to give kids a chance at the mic, with adults taking over at 9 p.m.

“I think it’s a nice atmosphere and everyone who works here is really friendly,” Stodolski said. “Everyone who comes loves us and can’t understand how we’re not busier.”

But for Stodolksi, who spent years in  working for Bank of America, any business in her own shop is better than no business.

“I didn’t love it, the corporate world and kissing up to get where you want to be,” she said. “I thought I’d do something with dogs; dogs are my passion.”

But while working up a business plan, she thought it would be good to put together a coffee shop with baked goods.

“But a business should reflect who you are, so we make doggie ice cream and dogs are welcome on our patio,” Stodolski said. “We even have a doggie wall of fame. I wanted out of corporate America and it’s fun. As much a struggle as it is, I would take this over that any day.”

While the shop is slowly making its way to becoming Stodolski’s dream job, serving people as well as dogs, there’s one question folks still have when they walk into the shop,

“Who’s Madison?”

“People are always asking that,” Stodolski said. “I decided to call it Madison’s because I never loved my name, people always pronounce it like ‘Don,’ but I thought Madison’s had a nice ring to it.”

She said she mulled over Black Dog Cafe and Cream and Bean before eventually settling on Madison’s for its simplicity.

“Originally we thought about calling it Cream and Bean, but we knew we’d be adding beer later and I couldn’t picture guys saying ‘Dude, let’s go to Cream and Bean.’”

Madison’s Coffee House is open Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.;

Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information on Madison’s, visit www.madisonscoffee.com and find the shop on Facebook at www.facebook.com/madisonscoffee.