Local couple opens Ferry Market to bring unique food options to New Hope
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
We live in a fast-paced, grab-and-go sort of world. While restaurants still hold a certain charm, we don’t always have time for a sit-down meal. That’s why husband-wife duo Sherri and Kevin Daugherty brought a unique, Reading Terminal-esque experience to their New Hope community. The Ferry Market, located at 32 S. Main St., is a one-stop-shop for coffee, crepes, sandwiches and more that conveniently offers both eat-in and takeout options for customers.
For years, the Daughertys have been staples in the local community. The two founded the Bridge Street Foundation, which helps enhance the area and provides funding to the Bucks County Playhouse. They also developed the Playhouse Inn and Carriage House into a quaint space for visitors, which will include a restaurant by the renowned Iron Chef Jose Garces.
The Ferry Market is simply an extension of their already present commitment to revitalizing New Hope.
“The intent is to try to address underdeveloped areas to make New Hope even better,” Kevin said. “It had all been completely abandoned, even the waterfront. This building had been the Four Seasons Mall and it was under-utilized space. We heard the town was very interested in having a market, and this was right in the center of town, fronting both Main Street and the Delaware River.”
According to market manager Meghan Sauppe, plans for the market began almost four years ago. During their initial brainstorming period, the Daughertys thought about what New Hope was lacking. While there were tons of great food options, the majority were sit-down restaurants. They knew a contemporary market, much like Chelsea Market in New York or the Reading Terminal in Philadelphia, would bring a unique experience to the area.
The final result, which opened in October, allows customers to stop in and grab a quick bite, which they can either eat there or take home. There is spacious indoor and outdoor seating, not to mention complimentary Wi-Fi, and plans for expansion are already in the works.
The goal of the Ferry Market is to introduce locals and tourists to food options that can’t be easily obtained elsewhere, like gluten-free desserts at The Happy Mixer or Peruvian food at Lima Fusion. The Daughertys also wanted to help talented vendors establish a name in the community, while not taking away business from restaurants.
“They didn’t want there to be competition,” Sauppe said. “They didn’t want to make it hard for the people who built this town.”
Currently, 13 vendors have set up shop in the Ferry Market. Though no two are alike, each vendor has a variety of options guaranteed to please customers of all ages. At The Pork Shack, parents can enjoy a pulled pork sandwich while the kids munch on peanut butter and jelly or grilled cheese. Meanwhile at Skyroast Coffee, owner Alan Cohen offers a caffeine-less chocolate drink for the little ones that he whipped up in minutes.
For most of these vendors, including Cohen, being a part of the Ferry Market is a dream come true. Known as the “coffee guy,” and for good reason, Cohen has been roasting his own coffee for five years and is thrilled to live out his passion full-time.
After speaking with Cohen for just a few minutes, one thing is clear — he knows coffee. At only 6 years old, he had his first taste of the drink when he sneakily poured some of his mother’s coffee into his milk. It was love at first sip. This love continued throughout college, especially when he discovered the benefits of caffeine before final exams.
One day, his world was turned upside down when he drank one particular cup that was unlike any other. It was the best he ever tasted. Cohen soon realized he had been drinking “bad” coffee his entire life, and immediately set out to discover the secret to “good” coffee.
What he found was a simple answer — good coffee is fresh. Cohen explained how coffee cherries need to be handpicked on a weekly basis. They can ripen anytime over a four-week period, but most large companies pick them all at once, not taking the time to check when each individual cherry is ready. The rest of the process can be done perfectly, including roasting and brewing, but coffee made from an under or overripe cherry will never taste fresh. At Skyroast, Cohen prides himself on serving consistently fresh coffee every day.
As he quickly becomes New Hope’s beloved “coffee guy,” it’s strange for Cohen to think about where he was just a few months ago. While running his coffee roasting business part-time, he was simultaneously working a 9–5. It was during an average work day when he received the email that changed everything — a vendor slot was open at the Ferry Market.
“I could not say no,” he said. “I quit the day job and took a risk to put my coffee out there. I love the professionalism of the market and I also love New Hope. I decided it was time to make this my only job.”
In addition to Skyroast Coffee, vendors at the Ferry Market include Blue Moon Acres, Boku, Bonjour Creperie, Cross Culture, Greenstraw Smoothies, Lima Fusion, Moose on the Loose, Sciascia Confections, The Happy Mixer, The Pork Shack, Unionville Vineyards and Zach & Zoe Sweet Bee Farm. The current pop-up vendor is Great Beer Brewery.
The Ferry Market is open Wednesday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday and Saturday throughout the holidays until 8 p.m. The market is at 32 S. Main St. in New Hope. For information about vendors, hours and rentals, visit theferrymarket.com or call 609–240–5983. ••
Samantha Bambino can be reached at [email protected]
