Paper Plane Coffee Co., a popular specialty coffee roaster based in Montclair, is expanding to a second location in Maplewood, the company announced this week.
The new shop will open in a building with deep local roots — the former site of Nelson’s Automotive, which closed in 2023 after operating for more than a century. The property, located at 145 Dunnell Road, spans 7,000 square feet, making it more than three times the size of Paper Plane’s current Montclair location.
For co-owner Jonathan Echeverry, Maplewood already feels like home. He and his family moved to the town three years ago, and he sees the new location as a natural next step.
“I love being part of Maplewood,” Echeverry said. “When we were looking for a new location, we wanted something with the same charm as Montclair—walkability, great shops, good food, and a strong community. Maplewood had it all.”
Echeverry, who has a personal interest in old garages, said the building had caught his eye long before it became available. When the opportunity arose, he couldn’t pass it up.
While the new location is still in the early planning stages, Echeverry has a vision for what it could become. A small café space is expected to open by the end of the summer, offering grab-and-go coffee, pastries, and juices. If all goes well, larger developments could follow, including a commercial kitchen and a space for local artists and makers to sell their work.
“It’s not final yet, but we’re thinking about launching a weekend artist market,” he said. “That would help support local artists and give us a way to grow gradually, just like we did in the beginning.”
Echeverry started Paper Plane Coffee in 2017 at the Artists and Fleas Market in Brooklyn. He also comes from a long line of coffee growers—he’s a fifth-generation Colombian coffee farmer. The shop’s signature beans are sourced from his family’s hometown in Colombia.
Paper Plane is known for its third-wave coffee style. The focus is on light roasts, traceable sourcing, and highlighting complex flavors—similar to a wine tasting experience. Echeverry said their sweeter drinks take inspiration from travel, pop culture, and nostalgia.
“I wanted to offer something different,” he said. “If someone’s walking into our shop looking for a sweet drink, I want it to be a new experience—something they can’t just find on any corner.”
Paper Plane Coffee is already available at Baker Street Market in Maplewood, and Echeverry hopes to work with other local businesses, including Maplewood Mercantile.
“I care deeply about this community,” he said. “I want this new location to be more than just a coffee shop. I want it to contribute to the neighborhood in a positive way.”
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