New Montevallo coffee shop carries echoes of the past, dares to be different [Video]

A new coffee shop called Meri Moon has opened in Montevallo, located in the former Strand Theatre building on Main Street, and it carries echoes of the past.

Cheryl Patton, who founded Eclipse, a popular coffee shop and bookstore that closed in 2017 in Montevallo, has taken a leading role in Meri Moon.

Patton suggested the idea of a new coffee shop to Rachel Christine Phillips, formerly a bartender at Main Street Tavern, and they became business partners.

“Cheryl’s taking the daytime and I’m taking the nighttime for right now,” Phillips said. “She handles all the business side, and I will be operations. I couldn’t do this without her.”

Patton and Phillips signed a lease on the Strand in May and opened July 2. They’re expanding hours today, staying open until 8 p.m.

“It’s gone great,” Phillips said. “Doing the breakfast and lunch really got our staff ready to handle it. Tonight’s the first night we will have the bar open. …