Ginkgo Tree marks five years by opening 1901 Coffee & Cocktail Lounge

Five years after taking ownership of Ginkgo Tree Historic Boutique Hotel in downtown Mt. Pleasant, David and Layla Davis are marking the milestone by looking forward, and investing in what they believe Mt. Pleasant has been missing. 

“When we were looking at the horizon of what is there to do in Mt. Pleasant, we saw a gap. We said, ‘There’s places to eat, but there’s not places to do things in Mt. Pleasant, and we want to fill that gap,’” says co-owner David Davis.

“We both were always entrepreneurs at heart,” Davis shares of their entrepreneurial endeavors. “We always had a goal to be more family centric and community focused.”

As they considered what the community needed as they continued to organically grow their business at Ginkgo Tree, the answer became clear. 

In honor of the hotel’s fifth anniversary, the entrepreneurial duo is expanding their offerings with their latest space on property for local residents and visitors alike: 1901 Coffee & Cocktail Lounge.

“1901 Coffee & Cocktail Lounge was curated and thought through, so that it was a perfect fit for the Mt. Pleasant community,” says Davis. “Any good business thinks about its community and then does what’s best for the community, not just what’s best for the business.”

“We wanted to do something that made the space available without the very difficult hard work of a restaurant,” Davis continues, noting his deep respect and appreciation for those in the restaurant industry. “We wanted to be in the space of providing at least the components necessary for people to gather and have discussions, have meetings, meet with family, meet with friends, and enjoy a space.”

This vision to create a space for people to gather, make memories, and enjoy community, came with a lot of work over the years. From updating the bars and guest spaces in the historic hotel, to planting detail-oriented landscaping and gardens on property, to expanding their outdoor patio by 1,500 square feet, to growing local partnerships for curated beverage and food menu items, Davis says he ultimately desires to “do really fun cultural events that really just give people something interesting and fun to do in this community.”

To accomplish this, their coffee-and-cocktail hybrid provides a venue for live music, private events (partnering with local restaurants for catering), unique gatherings such as wine and charcuterie nights, outdoor movies alongside the Chippewa River, cigar and bourbon nights, and potentially even hosting chess tournaments.

Davis emphasizes the importance of supporting and collaborating with other local businesses, often partnering with them for catering and events.

“Our customers come in, and they’re telling us here are some of the best lattes they’ve ever had, which makes us feel really, really good, because we were really thoughtful about our local partner when it came to espresso,” shares Davis.

“And we probably have the largest selection of tea in Mt. Pleasant,” he adds of their 15 teas and tea lattes they offer, “because what’s a good Victorian hotel without good quality tea?”

Coffee, tea, wine, craft beer on tap, signature cocktails and mocktails all adorn 1901 Coffee & Cocktail Lounge’s menu. So does a food list full of local bakers’ pastries and baked goods for breakfast, paninis and sandwiches for lunch, and shareable charcuterie boards—items Davis calls “conversational food.”

“Everything that we add to the menu will be about doing exactly what we set out to do, which is conversational food,” he explains. “So things that allow you to continue to share—charcuterie boards are great for sharing and community … They’re all reaching from the same plate, and they’re talking, and carrying on. That’s what we want. We wanted to be an after-dinner spot, or a spot where maybe we’re not that hungry, but we want to connect with some friends and grab a little bit to eat.” 

“We feel really accomplished and very proud of the hard work we’ve been putting in—the sweat, the tears, the time. We hope this just continues to be a blessing to the community,” says Davis. 

On Friday, July 17, 1901 Coffee & Cocktail Lounge invites the community to celebrate their grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5 p.m. followed by live outdoor music starting at 6 p.m.