There’s a quiet opportunity for Williamsport residents and visitors to have a coffee and enjoy a calm environment on the corner of Maynard and West Fourth Streets.

The inspiration for Backhouse Cafe Coffee and Tea House, located at 901 W. Fourth St. in the city, came from when owner Ron Wright was involved in a gourmet pastry shop more than 30 years ago.

The coffee house, which reached its third anniversary this August, is operated by Wright, who owns the cafe with his wife June and her daughter Melanie Huggins.

“Our unique place is one where you can enjoy Italian-style expressed-based beverages, coffee and teas,” Ron Wright said. “Backhouse Cafe carries its own line of scones, muffins and quiche, baked in house.”

Ron Wright said roasting coffee was never in the plan, and that he prefers to tend the bar. However, rapport with customers led to some interesting menu items nobody else sells.

“I have certain signature drinks I make that nobody else does,” Ron Wright said.

Ron Wright said his friend, Rachel, entered the coffee house and asked if Wright could put together an espresso with other ingredients.

“It turned out she really liked it,” Ron Wright said.

Soon, her friend asked for the same thing, and another customer asked for the same thing–until eventually, “The Rachel” found its way onto the menu.

“It has really been a big hit,” Ron Wright said.

Backhouse draws anyone from college students, adults, visitors to the city and businesses looking for a meeting space as its clientele. In fact, June Wright remarked that two long-lost siblings found one another over a long distance and reserved a room at the cafe to meet one another for the first time.

“This is a safe space,” Ron Wright said. “You don’t have to worry about anyone being bullied. We don’t allow foolishness.”

The Wrights purchased the restored historic Queen Anne-Victorian building in 2016 and filled it with comfortable furniture to create a relaxed environment for patrons. The Backhouse was now ready to open in 2018.

Because of the building’s historic roots, the Wrights attract plenty of customers looking to get a feel for what the interior of a Victorian building looks like.

Backhouse Cafe is open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.