Fig Authentic: Melinda Schneck

What started as a coffee trailer became something Melinda Schneck never quite expected: a place people would make a part of their daily lives.

When Melinda and her husband first talked about Roasties, they imagined a coffee trailer they could run together on weekends. After Melinda left her fintech career, they decided to give it a shot. They went into it without knowing exactly where it would lead, opening the trailer Monday through Friday before trying their first Saturday about a month in. The response was immediate, and the weekend quickly became the heart of the business.

“We wanted to build something that was an exciting destination for people to come to,” Melinda said. “People were traveling on the weekends from all over the Valley to come.”

When the trailer became too small to sustain through the winter, the next step seemed to find them. Melinda and her husband had driven past a building in Macungie and called about it, only to learn it was already under contract. A week or two later, the new owners reached out after visiting the trailer and asked if they’d considered a permanent location.

Inspired by coffee shops she loved in Philadelphia and Atlanta, Melinda transformed the former house near Macungie Memorial Park into a bright café with an indoor-outdoor feel. But the space was always about more than coffee.

“We needed a third space,” Melinda said. “I love seeing couples sitting at Roasties, and you can tell they’re meeting for the first time.” From families and dogs to friends and first dates, the space has become a place for people to connect.

Today, Roasties hosts book clubs, craft events, comedy nights, and countless everyday conversations. Its regulars have followed the business from its trailer days, helping create the community Melinda envisioned. “We did not expect it to happen this way, but we’re really glad it did,” she said.

Visit Roasties in Macungie or find them online to experience the community for yourself.

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