Rea's on the move: Popular Swansea coffee stop has room to grow at new location

SWANSEA — Lately it's been a bit quieter at Coles Landing, normally bustling with locals looking for morning pick-me-up at the popular food trailer Rea's.

Wondering where your favorite cold brew creations and tasty treats have gone? Just look up.

The 566 Wilbur Ave. stop that's become a fixture in the Ocean Grove neighborhood over the past two years has moved, but fortunately Rea's fans won't have to travel far. Folks can now find Rea's signature cold brew coffee, bagels, brunch specials, and sweet baked goods at their new, more permanent home less than a mile up the road.

In fact, "you can see one from the other," said owner Laura Finn, who runs Rea's along with her husband Kyle.

Doors opened Aug. 2 at Rea's new brick-and-mortar location at 531 Wilbur Ave., a roughly 1,000-square-foot storefront space formerly occupied by the Ocean Grove Burrito Bar and the adjacent Swim World.

"It's still small — the way we like it — but much bigger than we're used to," Finn said.

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Though it's only been two weeks — and there's still no signage up and the trailer remains parked at Rea's roadside site — Finn said to her surprise they've really hit the ground running.

"I thought there would be a lull while people figured it out, but it was kind of the opposite," Finn said. "Word of mouth traveled very quickly and a lot of people wanted to come see the new space. It was an awesome first week."

In the fall of 2021, Finn got her start with the food trailer model with the idea that it was easier to manage, leaving more time to pour her efforts into what she is most passionate about — the food.

While she loved the trailer — and would still like to keep it going — Finn said it got to a point where Rea's needed "a solid home base" for the business with room to grow.

"Now we can work on adding new things to the menu which is what we really wanted to do," she said.

Looking to expand Rea's menu

According to Finn, Rea's will still have the same core menu — featuring their much-loved bagels, treats and cold brew — with some exciting new offerings to come. They've added iced teas and refreshers, and this week their new bacon, egg and cheese sandwich proved a huge hit that will likely be there to stay.

They'll be looking to work more sandwiches and fresh grab-and-go items like salads, fruit and yogurt, into their offerings as they go, she noted.

But what keeps people coming back are tried and true staples like Rea's OG, which is "by far" their most popular drink — described as a smooth, creamy cold brew blend, twice-concentrated, infused with caramel and vanilla notes — followed by the pistachio nut cold brew. Food-wise, their turkey and cheese BLT is a can't miss, she said.

New location features comfortable indoor seating

Most will come for the food, but Finn hopes folks stick around for the atmosphere, noting lots of work went into transforming the location over the past few months — from new floors to new paint and many aesthetic touches.

The sun-soaked spot features huge windows in the front, lots of greenery and plants adding life to the space, as well as a couch and indoor seating that accommodates about 16 to 20 people.

"It feels very bright and airy. It was a total overhaul. We put a lot of love into it," Finn said. "We want an area you can come into, feel comfortable, and hang out ... there's a community feel to it."

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Trailer is temporarily closed but owners plan to reopen

Since there are no outdoor seating options at Rea's new location, Finn said she is eager to get the trailer back up and running, especially in the nice weather.

"We actually had quite a few people come to the brick and mortar, get their stuff and then go over to the trailer and sit at those picnic tables," she said.

According to Finn, the trailer will remain closed at least through August while they get their bearings at their new home. Their goal is to eventually reopen the trailer as a sort of express location where you can grab a quick coffee and a treat.

It's currently still a two-person crew running Rea's, but they're looking to get more hands on deck so they can eventually expand their hours. Right now, Rea's is open Wednesday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Since announcing their move, Finn said the support they've received has been "truly overwhelming in the best way possible" and she's looking forward to Rea's new chapter.

"To see the way the community has responded to us has been more than I could dream or ask for. Everyone has been so supportive, so kind. It's been amazing," Finn said. "I'm really excited to see what's going to come of it."

For more information and updates on Rea's, visit www.eatatreas.com or check out their Facebook or Instagram page.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Rea's hits the ground running at new Swansea home