The Coffee Shop That Made Me Grab My Camera
Exposed brick, string lights, and a seat at the bar.
I wasn't planning to take photos that day.
My friend Nick had texted me about body doubling — meeting up at a coffee shop to work alongside each other. Nick was my mentor during our time at Fifth Third, and we were both at Kroger before layoffs hit. As UX designers, we picked Coterie Lounge & Cafe in West Chester because neither of us had been and the website had a little spunk to it.
Vibrant blue wave and orange sun mural painted on wall at Coterie Lounge and Cafe with seating area
Yes, they sell dice. This place has layers.
I worked on SOLHER Drafts stuff while he prepped a talk. It was easy, productive, the kind of afternoon that reminds you why you need people in your corner. Your community matters.
On his way out, Nick pointed to a wall I'd walked right past — a corkboard covered in coffee sleeves. At Coterie, you can purchase a sleeve and leave it for someone else. Each one has a handwritten note: "To: A Teacher, From: A Fan." "To: Someone stressed out by their MIL, From: A Kindred Spirit." "To: Military, From: A Dad."
I said, "Man, I wish I had my camera to capture this place."
Turns out it was in my car.
I stayed another hour, walking around with my lens, finding the light in all the right corners — the chalk mural covered in hand-drawn florals, the bold wave-and-sun painting, the witchy "Good or Bad Witch" book propped on the counter, the gaming dice display catching window light.
But the photo that stopped me was a sleeve with a broomstick sketched on it and the words: "For someone holding space for the lyrics of Defying Gravity."
I'd only seen Wicked for the first time a to ring in 2025 — watched it on New Year's Day with my best friend Val. And here I was, in the middle of a season of transition, finding that message pinned to a wall in a coffee shop I'd never been to.
Sometimes the universe winks at you.
Coterie Lounge & Cafe is the kind of place that makes you want to grab your camera. Exposed brick, string lights, murals with personality, and a community board that proves strangers still look out for each other.
If you're a photographer looking for a location with warmth and character — or just someone who needs a coffee and a moment — this is your spot.
Coterie Lounge & Cafe
8870 Cincinnati-Dayton Rd, West Chester, OH 45069
coteriecafe.com | @coterieloungecafe
Vibe: Cozy, eclectic, community-minded
Best for: Lifestyle sessions, headshots with personality, or just staying longer than you planned.
Have a favorite local spot I should check out? Send me a message — I'm always looking for new places to explore with my camera.