It's budget season in Prince George's County, and that means one thing: County employees are going to need a lot of coffee.
That's where Michelle Wiggs comes in.
The coffee shop has been a favorite meeting place for county employees since its original location opened three years ago, but customers at the administration building's cafeteria, which they said had been vacant for about nine months, said they appreciate a chance to grab a cup of coffee or a bite to eat without leaving the building — and to chat with Wiggs, a Clinton resident, who they said provides more than just food.
Peggy Morris, a human resources specialist for the county's Office of Community Relations, said she and Wiggs have been friends for years and said she often meets with employees at Wiggs' shop on Main Street.
But Morris said that in the middle of a budget season she does not have time to leave the building to eat lunch — and she added that even when she goes somewhere else, the experience is not the same.
"[I like] the customer service — as soon as you walk in, people are greeting you," Morris said. "I'm not used to that."
Marcus Jackson, Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson's liaison to the County Council, agreed.
"It's just really great to have a place to grab a quick sandwich," said Jackson, who was waiting in line May 28 to buy some food. "I like the owner, I like the establishment," he added.
Wiggs said she started working on opening the coffee shop in the courthouse, which already had a cafeteria but not a place to grab a quick cup of coffee, in December 2007, after she heard customers complain that it was hard to find time to leave the building. She applied to open the shop in the administration building early this year when the county requested proposals from vendors interested in opening a location in the unused cafeteria.
She opened the original location in June 2006 after leaving a 26-year career as an accountant. Wiggs said she changed careers because her job was causing her stress, and she sees her coffee shops as a chance for busy people to relax for a little while.
"I hope [customers] get a feeling of being welcomed," Wiggs said. "It's someplace where you can go and de-stress for maybe 15 or 20 minutes."
Wiggs conceded that running a chain of coffee shops can also be stressful, especially during an economic downturn. The first couple of days at the administration building were spotty, with 86 people buying lunch from her May 26 and 62 people buying lunch the following day.
But Wiggs said business has been good enough at her shop on Main Street that she has been able to hire six new employees to help run the three locations. She said she thinks business will pick up when more county employees return from vacations and after word of the shop spreads.
"It's even a strain for a multitasker," Wiggs said. "But it can be fun."
On May 28 the breakfast rush had died down by 9:30 a.m., giving Wiggs time to set up for lunch and to chat with a handful of patrons who were still trickling in. Even then, new customers were showing up.
"It's my first time here," said Sara Chadwick, a county planner, who was waiting in a short line to fill her cup with coffee. "This is great," she added. "This is super convenient."
E-mail Greg Holzheimer at gholzheimer@gazette.net.
