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Alabaster Coffee Roaster & Tea Company, 400 Pine St., is currently closed like many other businesses, though they are remaining open for online orders via their website during the pandemic.
That hasn't stopped Karl Fisher, owner, and his staff from keeping connected to the Williamsport community through their local market, virtual tip jar and daily encouraging Facebook posts.
"Earlier last month we decided to temporarily close the coffee bar," he said. "All of our business has been directly through our website and we are working on what relaunching will look like when we are able to safely. We have been trying some things to support our staff such as a virtual tip jar on the order page of our website."
Locals and any other Alabaster coffee lovers can go onto the website and order their preferred coffee blends, t-shirts, mugs, honey, milk and even brewing equipment. Anyone who can also provide a tip is able with the virtual tip jar, also located on the website when ordering something.
Within this market is an addition of a limited edition mug that Alabaster partnered with MiiR, the drinkware company Alabaster uses, that will provide $5 from each purchase to Feeding America's COVID-19 Response Fund. The mug is called "Together alone."
So far, Fisher said that within their online local market selling the equipment, coffee and other merchandise, their delivery is currently five miles away from downtown Williamsport but are looking into expanding.
"That is where we are starting with to see if there is an interest for it and that it is manageable for our staff," Fisher added. "As it grows we can bring in more staff."
Alabaster is also working to help ship and bring coffee to local teachers, organizations and healthcare workers.
"We just brought a big coffee donation up to Camp Susque this week," Fisher said. "They are single-serve coffees that people who are staying can have in their rooms."
"We are just looking at how we can still be a positive influence and partner with local organizations to help support our healthcare workers, other organizations and local workers," he continued.
Another partnership that will be available to the public started in mid-April is with Bullfrog Brewery, another downtown business. They partnered together to create "Alabaster Imperial Coffee Stout" which is a New Guinea dark roast coffee with notes of dark chocolate, molasses and of course, imperial stout.
"It's been really nice and encouraging," Fisher said in terms of Alabaster's partnerships. "We have seen some great relational and community development."
In regards to Alabaster's coffee supply, which often comes from Latin American countries of Columbia, Brazil, El Salvador and more, is not yet a concern for the company.
"We haven't really seen a pinch on the supply chain," Fisher added. "I am curious to see what is going to happen in the next harvest season."
He said that their supply is not negatively impacted by coffee's typical once a year harvest at this time.
"We do recognize that as a potential but that's not a concern right now," Fisher said.
Right now, concerns come in terms of cash flow for the employees as there is no in-person sales going on.
"Effectively, our in-person retail is largely closed and we certainly miss that," he said. "So much of what we do is being in the community and being in that community space. But I think also in that, we have a responsibility to model good and safe practices."