The Boone Buzz
To say Uijin Park is a multi-tasker would be a bold understatement. During our interview, the Espresso News owner was also roasting coffee beans and timing out the entire process. However, this focus and dedication did not prevent him from being his passionate, entertaining self.
The story of how Uijin came to own Espresso News is one that is bittersweet. The coffee shop was founded in 1994 by Mark DeBroder and Uijin started working for Mark in 1997 while attendingAppalachian State University. “This business was like his child. He built it, it was his passion,” Uijin remembers. In 2001 Mark was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and was given a year to live. With this news, Mark asked Uijin to buy the business from him. “It was important for me to continue his creation,” Uijin explained.
With his passing in January of 2003, everyone who knew Mark continued to honor his memory any way they could. Uijin honors Mark by carrying on the traditions he instilled as owner both in roasting and camaraderie. “I like the environment he created. It was just fun to come to work,” Uijin remembers.
While running the local coffee shop, Uijin spends his free time with family, outside on adventures, or at his metal fabrication studio. All of the counters in Espresso News were handcrafted by him. He officially came to Boone for the Appalachian State University Art Department to focus on sculpture, but he admits that the real reason he came was for the great outdoors. He loves practically every type of outdoor recreation, and grew up traveling to Boone for skiing and other activities from his hometown of Winston Salem, NC.
While he often does not have too much time to spend in his studio, he feels like he still is able to flex his creative muscles with his job. “Working here, I’m making things every day. It might just be a cup of coffee, but that’s still something,” Uijin explains. “Everything that we have here is made from scratch, roasted fresh. All the pastries are made from scratch in that tiny kitchen every day.”
With the coffee shop just being a stone's throw away from our office, it’s become a much anticipated daily routine to grab a cup of joe before starting our day of work. So thank you Enews, for providing a place for us #Boonies to flock together, and for fueling our caffeine addictions.