Rebecca's

Rebecca’s. It is hard to imagine now, in what seems a peaceful, united, reinvigorated, boutique-shop, old neighborhood, a coffee shop owner would need to keep a gun under the counter. Back in 1993 this was the case. Rebecca Zearing of her eponymous coffee shop says "It was a dangerous neighborhood back then, so we had to."

The somewhat quiet and serene woman, who was on her high school rifle team, is no longer a pistol -packing' mama. Zearing is, however, still full of surprises like the time she stood up to a drug dealer threatening to break her shop windows with a baseball bat. Rebecca occupied the "El Camino" space next door back then. The drug dealer was enraged because she was hurting his business. "All I could think about was, "it is going to hurt if he hits me with that." He ended up breaking the TV shop windows next door, the location she eventually moved into and still occupies. Or the time four ex-con's fresh out of prison rolled up with guns (concealed) and tried to rob the coffee shop. She went in back to get them food and calmly called the cops before coming back to face them and wait for the police to show up.

Rebecca is humble in talking about her own restaurant. "We serve sandwiches, soups, and salads." The truth is her kid friendly, eclectic shop serves works of art, at least those sandwiches made by staffer Courtney Klose. They seem too beautiful too eat, and are packed full of your choice of meat and condiments and come with a side of fresh fruit. The soup is made fresh and changes daily. Breakfast is served all day, and homemade muffin's cookies, croissants and pastries line fill the counter and display cases. All ingredients 100% organic and fair trade made.

At Rebecca's poetry readings and open mic' nights run twice a month and the around the clock weekends starting on Thursday feature live acoustic music jams and live jazz sessions. "I am simply amazed at how strangers here come together, become friends, says Zearing commenting both on the entertainment and community spirit evident in and emanating from her shop."

But most telling of all is Rebecca's tribute to the community that keeps her at peace. "A writer from the Reader came around with a story about North Park vs. South Park divide. What ever that is, and asked me about competition with others in the neighborhood. I said we have none, all businesses here support each other, he seemed to not like that and went off to find [or create] his controversy elsewhere."

It just goes to show Rebecca no longer needs that gun to fend off controversy and crooks.…