Coffee, bagels, music and art all come together at new South Mississippi coffee shop
The menu of drinks and desserts at The Vault Coffee House is bigger than many restaurants in South Mississippi.
Just opened on Washington Avenue, north of the Ocean Springs drawbridge, The Vault is all about choices.
Customers can order online for pickup at the drive-thru window if they’re on the way to work or for delivery if they’re already at work or don’t want to leave home.
They can sit at one of the tables and savor a plain or everything bagel with cream cheese, or relax with a cotton candy or orange creamsicle frappes or other coffee or tea served hot or iced.
Those who aren’t a fan of coffee but like the idea of a flavorful drink can order one of the cream base frappes that come in traditional double chocolate chip and strawberries and creme, along with more adventurous flavors like chai creme and butter beer.
More than three dozen optional drink syrups, some of them sugar-free, along with sauces and powders let customers mix and match to create an apple cinnamon bun or maple cookie butter latte or mocha.
Beignets already are a favorite and the dessert case displays brownies, muffins and cake. Breakfast croissants and burritos also are on the menu.
Opening hours for the new coffee shop are 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Earlier and later hours and special offerings will be added.
Becoming part of the community
“We’re locals,” said owner Heather Lacey, who has family from Mobile through South Mississippi. She and her family started the business in 2018, selling coffee at church events and farmers markets before opening a shop inside the Bel Air Mall in Mobile.
When they decided to expand, “We really wanted to stay along the Gulf Coast area,” she said. The owners of Paninis and Boba restaurant retired from the food business, and The Vault moved in.
It’s got all the elements of a good coffee shop — a pick-up window, WiFi for guests, tables where people can work for a while or friends can meet.
It also has space for a stage, and Lacey said they will be inviting local musicians and artists to come in and share their work, as they do at the Mobile location. It’s basically an open mic for the community, she said, and they had an author’s book signing, local musicians playing and artists presenting their artwork.
Still to come
Manager Amanda Bastardi will oversee the expansion of offerings as The Vault brings out more specialties.
Already on the menu is Affogato, a trendy coffee drink with chocolate, vanilla or pistachio ice cream added to a double shot of espresso.
For everyone in the family, Ice Cream Factory 12-ounce containers will be added soon, in “So many flavors — it’s amazing,” said Dalton Lantz, a manager at the Ocean Springs store. Peanut butter blast and blueberry cobbler are just two varieties, he said.
Arts and entertainment served with a variety of food and drink will make The Vault more than a coffee shop. It also will be an avenue for community to come together, Lacey said.
