Good things take time.
That’s how Caleb Casey describes the mission of Shop Two, a specialty café and bakery in Marlborough.
“Nearly everything has been intentionally designed, crafted, or built by us – the space, the food, the ceramics, the drinks,” said Casey, who runs the shop with his wife Mary Jernigan. His brother, Joshua, is head roaster.
“We want the shop to feel warm, lived-in, and human. Our goal is for people to feel like they’re stepping into a place that was made, not assembled.”
Everything at Shop Two is baked from scratch, including the hand-rolled bagels made fresh daily and the in-house roasted coffee.
“This shop means a lot to us. We built it to feel special and to make people feel that way, too,” he said.
“Whether you’re stopping in for a bagel or sitting down with a cup of coffee, we hope you feel the love, time, and thought behind it all. Human touch makes things great, and it’s becoming rare,” Casey said. “We craft everything in-house because that’s where the magic is. We treat baking the way we treat roasting: with precision, repetition, and respect for the craft.”
Casey said he is proud of being a small-batch, in-house roaster.
“Each coffee we roast has its own story, shaped by the land and the people who grow it,” he said. “My brother, Josh, and I have been doing this together for years. We choose coffees that are traceable, transparent, and grown with care, and we try to roast them to bring out clarity and nuance.”
They focus on lighter roasts that let the natural sweetness and complexity shine through.
“When done right, roasting reveals the coffee’s true character,” said Casey, who sources fair trade coffee beans, seeking coffees that are clean, expressive, and vibrant.
“We work with importers who have real relationships at the farm level, and we roast in a way that brings dignity to the efforts of the people who grew the beans,” he said. “If we want coffee to exist for future generations, we have to make it worth growing today.”
The café serves 3-4 single-origin coffee and has a full espresso bar, drip, iced options, and seasonal drinks.
“Our lineup changes often because we prioritize fresh crops and coffees with real character,” said Casey.
In addition, they serve lattes, including seasonal flavors, hot chocolate, and a variety of tea. Beverages are served from handmade mugs.
“I knew nothing about making ceramics, but I designed and made them from start to finish. They’re not meant to be perfect; they’re meant to feel like they came from human hands.”
All food items are also made fresh daily.
“My wife does a lot of baking. We make everything ourselves because that’s where quality comes from. We’re proud of our maple syrup and our honey which come from Hurst Farm in Andover. I grew up going there. Using locally sourced products like theirs genuinely improve what we make,” said Casey.
The menu includes hand-rolled plain or everything bagels and naturally leavened, slow fermented sourdough bread, baked fresh daily. All sandwiches are made-to-order. A pastry case is filled with a variety of scratch-made pastries, muffins, cookies, kolaches, spreads, fillings, and syrups.
Vanessa Magnotta, of East Hampton, said she visits the café multiple times per week.
“All of their flavors are delicious and unique. I love trying new things so I’m always changing it up,” said Magnotta. “Sometimes just a simple cappuccino hits the spot, but if I had to single out one flavor, the Maple Cardamom latte is a top contender.”
A favorite breakfast bite is Avocado Toast. “It’s flavorful; the house made sourdough is perfection. I love how everything is house made. All that homemade goodness really amplifies the cozy vibes,” she said.
Magnotta also said she appreciates Shop Two’s philosophy.
“As someone who works for a small business, supporting local and small is important to me. You can tell how much love is poured into every aspect of Shop Two. The whole team is wonderful,” she said.
“I know that every time I visit; I’m going to be greeted by friendly folks, gorgeous handcrafted food/beverages, and a comfortable place to read while just enjoying the peaceful ambiance,” said Magnotta. “If you’re stuck on what to order, they always have a great recommendation. The vintage and antique decor enhance the very homey feel of the space.”
Casey opened the cafe in 2024. “We’ve been building toward it most of our lives. My brother Josh and I roasted coffee together for the first time when I was 14, and my mom bought me my first espresso machine at Goodwill for $5 around that same age,” he said. “Our family has always been coffee obsessed, long before we ever saw it as a business. Before the café existed, we roasted in a garage and served from a beat-up camper we rebuilt ourselves.”
The name, Shop Two, honors the name of the garage where Casey first roasted coffee.
“We started calling it ‘shop two’ as a joke, since it was the second creative space we had after my dad’s original workshop. He’s a contractor who taught us how to build things with our hands, and that mindset carried directly into what Shop Two became. When we opened the café, the name represented the progression of everything we’d been building, learning, and creating.”
Casey also rebuilt a 1973 Serro Scotty Camper that was used to test drinks at events before the café opened.
“It taught us about consistency, workflow, and serving people quickly. We still use it for events. It’s a great reminder of how far we’ve come,” said Casey, noting appreciating the community’s support.
“The town has always shown up for us. We host events, partner with local makers and musicians, and try to be a place that really brings people together. Intentional spaces matter, especially in small towns. Great coffee and great food matter, but the feeling matters more.”