Bartleby's Cafe Owner Claims His Corner In Mystic

, named after early American novelist Herman Melville’s short story Bartleby, the Scrivner: a Story of Wall Street, is a respite for holiday shoppers, tourists and chess players alike. With , freshly roasted coffee and games for the playing, the homey country kitchen decor often crowned with local artwork is filled with local ease and familiar faces. 

Ross Mandell, Groton resident and owner of Bartleby's in Mystic, remembers growing up in Norwich and riding bikes through Mystic as a youth. 

“The town then was much more practical,” he said. "There was a pharmacy, a bowling alley and a gas station where [] is now. It was much less geared toward gift shops and tourists.”

Mandell has spent most of his life living and working in the area, but was far from the coffee aficionado and retailer he is today.  

The strikingly understated and down to earth Mandell attended Norwich Free Academy, Bates College, Florida State and University of Connecticut, earning degrees in literature and economics, topped with a master of business administration.  

After working in fiscal analysis for the Connecticut General Assembly among other jobs, Mandell decided to shift gears in pursuit of more independence.  So he ventured in to Mystic in search of a corner space to open his own business where he could hire himself and become his own boss.  

“I never went to cafes but thought about what I do best...drink coffee and eat. I didn’t think it through any further than that,”  he said. “I love a quality coffee, I’m addicted to it, I have been all my life.”

In the summer of 1999, Ben and Jerry’s moved out and Bartleby's moved into the space famously known as the former .  

Now 12 years later, Mandell can be found at Bartleby's daily. Having taken only two weeks of vacation since his venture began, he admits his business is entertaining especially when it comes to tourists.  

“The people who owned the consignment shop down the street are from London. Just the other day, they were sitting here next to [a] tourist from London when they both realized they were born from almost the same city block in London,” he said with an incredulous smile. 

Then there’s the occasional celebrity, such as Salma Hayek, Conan O’Brien and Chris Dodd along with performers from the casino who stop in for a quick bite and a cappuccino.  

Mandell takes pride in his custom roaster in Massachusetts, which provides a nice complimentary roast to the beans they choose. He’s also expanded beyond coffee and deserts to sandwiches and salads to keep Bartleby's going.  

Mandell has seen better days with business, and is hoping and cross marketing with other businesses with bring in more customers.  

“It’s a brutal economy and [visiting cafe’s] are not high on people’s lists right now, but we create a good product and I’d like to continue earning a living at it,” he said.