Founder and owner Janet Forlini’s inspiration for Clove & Cedar Coffeebar began thirty years ago. In the mid 1990’s, Janet’s mother, always an avid lover of news and journalism, bought and became publisher of a weekly newspaper in the small town outside of Boston where Janet grew up. Even today that newspaper remains a vital part of the community fabric there.
Janet saw that same opportunity for community connections in independent coffee shops. After living in Bethesda, Maryland for more than 15 years, Janet opened Clove & Cedar Coffeebar Bethesda in 2019. From the beginning, the mission of Clove & Cedar was to shine a spotlight on other small local businesses and non-profit community organizations. The menu consisted of regionally sourced coffee and tea and baked goods sourced from local bakeries. The Bethesda shop quickly built a loyal following but its trajectory changed in 2020 during COVID. With the support from customers, Janet and her team pivoted to providing donated coffee to first responders and hospital staff. Ultimately, sales never returned to their pre-pandemic levels and Clove & Cedar Coffeebar Bethesda closed in 2021.
In June 2024, Janet opened Clove & Cedar Coffeebar in Bethany Beach, Delaware where she and her family have owned a home for several years. The new concept is very similar: once again Clove & Cedar features Ceremony coffee, Wight tea, and partners with local bakeries. The shop also donates a portion of sales to non-profits important to the surrounding area. Thank you to the Bethany Beach community for supporting local!
