Chuck 70s at Menotti's Coffee

If you are into coffee, the WFH times can easily serve you as an excuse to have another 2 or 3 cups a day and spend some extra time deep-diving into your favorite blend, favorite roast, cold or warm brew. You get it; the subject is endless (any similarity with sneakers here is not intended). In that spirit, we reached out for our neighbor shop Menotti's Coffee Stop in Venice to have a chat with Nicely and understand a bit better what their roots are, the story behind the shop, and more.

You can find the Chuck 70s Nicely is wearing here.

*SNS: What's your name? *

Christopher: Christopher "nicely" Abel Alameda is my full name. Most folks know me by nicely. I earned that nickname my senior year in High School from my friends. That year I was playing Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the musical Guys & Dolls. I was voted most courteous among a few other things that year and my friends just said: "That's it, you're Nicely." It was my name more so with them until I started working at Espresso Vivace in Seattle where there was another gentleman by the name of Christopher. I informed the manager making the schedule that if they wanted to avoid any confusion at the time they could use my nickname. The owner and one of my mentors loved it! From then on anyone he was introducing me to in the Coffee industry knew me as Nicely and it officially stuck. It's given me something to live up to ever since!

Where are you from?

I was born in Far Rockaway, NY. I bounced up and down the East Coast between my Mom and my Dad until my mother moved us to Seattle, WA when I was almost 15. I moved to LA from Seattle when I was 23.

What's your occupation?

I am the Head Barista and one of the founders of Menotti's Coffee Stop in Venice, CA.

*How long have you been working with coffee? *

I have been working with coffee since I was 16. I turn 35 this June. So, almost 20 years. My first job was at the flagship location for Starbucks at the time in downtown Seattle. Krispy Kreme, Tully's, Espresso Vivace, Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea, Handsome Coffee Roasters, and Hart & The Hunter are all places I have had the title of Barista.

What's the back story on the name Menotti's?

We named it after a Venice historical figure. Cesar Menotti ran the largest distribution center in LA for alcohol during prohibition out of the cellar of the building we're located in. Using a network of tunnels they would receive alcohol from boats anchored offshore and distribute the booze to all the hotels in the area and as far in as downtown. The cellar under our space was a legit speakeasy and holds the honor as the oldest continuously operating bar in LA until the pandemic associated with Coivd-19 mandated all bars be closed.

There are loads of parallels between beer, wine, cocktails, and coffee. We saw it as an awesome opportunity to pay some homage to Venice history and take it in a fun new direction. Bartender in Italian is Barista! I've always prided myself on being an essentially daytime bartender. I think of brewed coffee like wine, espresso as spirits, and vanilla lattes as cocktails.

Why did you choose Venice Beach to open a coffee shop?

It feels more like it chose me. My time opening and working at the Intelligentsia in Venice was what initially brought me to LA. I had to live in Silverlake at first, but the vision and the mission was to live in Venice. I ended up living and working in some other areas of LA, which I am immensely grateful for the perspective that afforded me, but my whole concept of living in LA has always been Venice.

A couple of years after I'd left Intelligentsia I was looking for the right opportunity to bring me back home to Venice. I'd just had my firstborn and wanted to be close. I revisited a conversation I'd had at a bar near HCR with a fella by the name of Derek G. Taylor about a space in a building a couple he knew was looking to develop into a coffee shop. He got us all together and we got along instantly. Louis and Netty Ryan own the bar Townhouse next door and while raising three children have operated some legendary spaces in LA. I figured if anyone could understand a young father trying to do his best, these folks would. They entrusted Derek and me to make it happen and with their guidance, it has been a helluva ride! I have truly been fortunate to grow with them.

How has it been dealing with the current state of affairs and how have you had to acclimate your business?

It has been challenging to say the least! Eventually, we decided to close after staying open for a while at first. The uncertainty and lack of clear guidelines definitely impacted the vibe of our service enough that we felt it better to allow some dust to settle. Focusing on being takeaway establishments is our best bet for the time being while we'll explore some other items or services to offer.

*What's next for you and you're business? *

We're reopening our Venice location on April 30th while adhering to social distancing guidelines. I'll be rolling out the #MNOTTIS coffee van we typically use for movie sets in the parking lot of Hatchet Hall near our Culver City location that day as well.

*Also, if you have a favorite shoe you like most what would it be? *

One of my co-workers, Brandon Franks reawakened the sneakerhead I used to be in High School a couple of years ago with 2018 All-Star Kyrie 4's. Those feature some dope graphics of Venice Beach and are insanely comfortable to me! I picked up a couple more colorways of the Kyrie 4's on the strength of their comfort! They became my go-to work shoe.

*How did you hear about SNS? *

I feel super blessed and honored I learned about SNS from some of the staff at the LA location that frequent our Venice Stop. Pretty sure I may have complimented some shoes and that struck up a conversation. Sneakerheads united by caffeine. LoL