Pamela M.
Yelp
The "Klatsch" as it's known locally, truly is a slice of Huntsville and has been since 1976 (that's 48 years!)! Of course, I've had their coffee, who hasn't? Their iconic 1929-vintage Jabez Burns coffee roaster, purchased in New Orleans is the focal point of the coffee shop. That, and the beautiful earthy large, 130-lb. burlap bags in which their beans arrive, are located in the same room. One of my best childhood friend's parents loved the Klatch's beans so much, they mail ordered the bags of roasted beans and had them delivered to whatever part of the world work took her Daddy to El Paso, TX, and further.
More interesting for me and hordes of others was the Kaffeeklatsch bar, which, sadly, closed in 2015. For decades, "Klatsch" was the place to go to hear live blues, especially on Sunday's open mic Blues Night/Sunday Blues Jam! The 'Klatsch was known for live folk, blues, and jazz. Think Microwave Dave (fun fact: He got his stage name "Microwave" Dave, here! His real name is Dave Gallaher), Dave Anderson, Amy McCarley, Old Crow Medicine Show, Rolling Stones saxophonist Bobby Keys, and more.
The stage was small and intimate, and I'm sure the crowds [often winding thier way to the tiny upstairs area by sitting on the steps] exceeded the fire department capacity limit. A neighborhood hole-in-the-wall place, with a local dive bar feel, the restrooms were downstairs, and the stairwell walls as wwll as the restrooms were completely covered with all sorts of graffiti.
I don't recall the food offerings, but somehow hotdogs and things like chicken salad and tuna salad stand out in memory. It was a place to get a light lunch, and you'd see all walks of life from plumbers to politicians, lawncare workers to lawyers in the Klatsch. Beers were cold, there was a full bar, and the eclectic crowd was always interesting.
The tiny patio out front was a nice place to make new friends or meet people. It was a sad day when the bar part of the Klatsch closed. The owner, Carole Record (a former long-time server here), had decided to retire. I'm happy Grant and Kathy Heath are keeping the 'Klatsch alive with their delightfully locally roasted renowned coffee beans!