MANCHESTER, NH — The Moka Pot was packed wall to wall Monday as city officials, business leaders, and regulars gathered to celebrate the café’s newly expanded space — a move that speakers repeatedly described as more than a renovation, but a reaffirmation of downtown Manchester’s sense of community.
The ribbon-cutting marked the official opening of Moka Pot’s new larger space thanks to an expanded business partnership, designed to serve as a flexible gathering place. Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais praised the owners and staff for creating what he called a “true community hub.”
“You said you wanted to create a place for the community,” Ruais said. “I think you succeeded. This is unbelievable.” He pointed to planned programming such as open mic nights, poetry readings, book clubs, and conversation-driven events as examples of how the space is intended to be used.
Several speakers echoed that sentiment, with Ward 5 Alderman Jason Bonilla describing Moka Pot as his “second home” and At-Large Alderwoman June Trisciani referring to it as a rare “third space” — somewhere people can gather outside of work and home. Ward 3 Alderman Dana Dexter, in a statement read during the ceremony, said the café represents “more than just a business,” calling it a place where “connections are made, conversations happen, and community is built.”
City Economic Development Office Director Jodie Nazaka, who compared Moka Pot to the “Cheers of downtown Manchester — just not the bar scene,” thanked the cafe’s original owners Dan Redman and Angelica Castro Andrade for bringing Moka Pot to Manchester. It first opened in Antrim, but the location wasn’t right for the vibe. Moka Pot was obviously meant to thrive in a percolating city like Manchester.
“It wouldn’t be the same without you,” Nazaka said, giving props to the retro cartoons that loop on the cafe TV screen and suggesting the return to the menu of the avocado toast.
Erik Lesniak, who works alongside Nazaka for the city’s office of economic development as business liaison, said Moka Pot helps set the table for other businesses to follow – and lasting relationships to form.
“Deals are made at these tables, lifelong connections,” Lesniak said. “Visitors that are coming through here from other markets are realizing what we have here,” as a city, which is so special.
Andrade spoke briefly, recalling how she and Redman started dating after meeting at another downtown “third space,” Boards & Brews, and decided it might be kismet to run a cafe together.
“And then we were, like, let’s do something insane and open a business,” she said, making sure to give a shout out to Redman’s mother, Camille McLaughlin, who helped them navigate the daunting task of launching the business back in 2022. “The community here and our friends is what helped us grow in Manchester, honestly, we would not be able to keep doing what we’re doing without the crew that we have. So, we really appreciate, essentially, just being given a chance.”
The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce also marked the occasion, with President Heather McGrail noting that the event stood out even among many ribbon cuttings she’s attended of late.
“This one has more of a community feel than any over the last two years,” she said. “You can feel it the moment you walk in.”
For the owners and operators, the moment was both celebratory and emotional.
Speakers reflected on the years of work, the support of staff and patrons, and the partnerships that made the expansion possible. They also paused to honor Andrew Estes of Legend Electric, who helped with the renovation but passed away during the project. His permit will remain displayed in the space as a tribute, said Dan Haggerty who, in expanded partnership with fellow downtown business operator Nick Carnes, Redman and Andrade, helped reconfigure the former City Hall Pub space into an even bigger, better coffee shop beating with a collaborative heart.
“We don’t survive unless everyone contributes in their own way,” Haggery said. “That’s what community really means.”
Located in Manchester’s Arts District, the expanded space was intentionally designed to reflect and support the surrounding creative scene, said Carnes.
Looking ahead, Carnes hinted at what’s incubating in the Moka Pot’s former smaller adjacent space as New Hampshire’s first non-alcoholic bar concept, opening soon, to be called Without.
As the crowd poured into the space Monday afternoon, gathering for the ribbon cutting, the message was consistent: Moka Pot’s growth is intertwined with the growth of downtown Manchester.
“There’s a supportive community down here,” Carnes said. “And we’ll always back each other through whatever challenges come up.”
WATCH: Video below, The Ribbon is Cut, by Carol Robidoux
The Moka Pot is located at 8 Hanover St. in Manchester, NH.
