Padgett Station

This had been a lonely corner for a long time, here at the intersection of Main and Rosemary streets in Carrboro. A prime piece of property, a gas station and various other businesses had come and gone from this place, but there was never really anything to beckon folks in...until now.

Rachel Rose and husband Emmett Fahringer have changed all that.

The name of the place is Padgett Station. Odd, I thought, having only recently noticed the street sign just across Main in the ArtsCenter parking lot. It said Padgett Lane. No connection, said Rachel, pure coincidence. Kismet, I say. Padgett is a family name of Emmett's. They came over on the Mayflower.

But Rachel, Emmett and family came to us from Los Angeles, traveling across the country to land here in Carrboro.

I first met Emmett while taking pictures on a stroll around Carrboro with Cybrarian Susan Brown. He was working on the exterior of the building.

He spoke of his family's search for the perfect spot for their new business, about his wife and kids and their move from California, while peeking in at Susan's baby in the stroller.

Many months of planning and labor went into the transformation process of the property.

The end result made it all worthwhile.

The deep rose and white exterior matches the interior, which is accented by a textured tin ceiling in gold. Sleek black tables and chairs occupy the main space, with countertops hugging the lengths of the windows, looking out on the hustle and bustle of downtown.

There is also another room off on the right with a couch and tables and chairs, if you'd like a more private space.

Coffees, espressos, teas, house made chais, wines, cheeses, and chocolates are just a few tasty treats Padgett Station offers.

A long section of one wall gleams with coffee bean bins and bags, and bottles of winning wines. Rachel takes pride in the fact that all of everything they carry is all natural or sustainably-farmed organic, grown without any chemical fertilizer, herbicides or pesticides.

Padgett Station's coffee is 100% Fair Trade. According to the Global Exchange website, "To become Fair Trade certified, an importer must meet stringent international criteria; paying a minimum price per pound, providing much needed credit to farmers, and providing technical assistance such as help transitioning to organic farming. Fair Trade for coffee farmers means community development, health, education, and environmental stewardship."

This means the coffeee costs 3 times more, but the farmer growing it has a chance for a better life.

Rachel's background as a nutritionist and personal trainer have made her keenly aware of what pesticides can do to damage a body. Pure, quality products and ingredients are all she uses. She will not settle for less.

From the coffees to the cream that goes in it, from the fruit frappes to the Belgian chocolates and truffles, from the Italian sodas to the crumpets (with 15 different toppings to choose from), it's all organic.

Another pleasant aspect of this place is the art-lined walls. Padgett Station participates in the Carrboro/Chapel Hill 2nd. Friday Art Walk, featuring art exhibits that rotate on a regular basis.

Not only was the entire interior of the building renovated, the outside area was also redesigned.

Walk into the area paved with Orange County stone and you can sit under an umbrella or sink down into an Adirondack chair. This outdoor area provides a front row seat to Main St.

With their two kids, ages two and three and a half, and their mothers all moving to this area with them, Rachel and Emmett have planted their roots in Carrboro.

Now we get to help them grow.

Padgett Station is open Monday - Friday 6:30 am - 11:00 pm, Saturday 7:00 am - 11:00 pm, and Sunday 7:30 am - 10:00 pm. You can find them on the web at http://padgettstation.com, reach them by phone at 919.929.0445, or by email at info@padgettstation.com.