In our small beach town, many things can feel desolate during the winter months. No boating, no enjoying time at the beach, or too icy to go for a walk. However, there is one place that brings not only coffee to our town, but also livens the town with their culture and sense of community: Zumi’s! On an average trip to this coffee shop, you will notice every table filled with people ages one to ninety. At least three of these tables are filled with students from Ipswich High School every single afternoon. Even Ed Sheeran has paid a visit to this iconic landmark! Zumi’s is a place for everyone to enjoy. With deeper research, we wanted to know what exactly customers enjoy about this coffee shop and why it is so significant to the Ipswich community.
Upon interviewing Tea Princi, a frequent visitor at Zumi’s, she says one of her favorite parts is “the aesthetic”; she further explains, “It’s very cozy and gives off friendly vibes. The dim lighting is nice and calming.” But it’s not just the looks of the place that does the job for Princi, it’s the bonding and learning experiences she gains from visiting. She says,”the staff are always nice and friendly and Babesh especially will go out of his way to make people’s day,” she adds, “he is always making people laugh.” We asked, “How would things be different if you had never gone to Zumi’s?” and Princi responded,”I feel like I wouldn’t have another sense of community and not as many bonding moments with certain people. People come up to me when I’m sitting down and we gossip or have good convos, including people that I don’t talk to a lot at school.” Tea perfectly explains the magic that customers experience daily during their time at Zumi’s. Aside from the community and the culture, she also loves to order a salted caramel cloud latte with oat milk, which is her go-to order. From a quick coffee run, to hours long of studying, customers are guaranteed a great coffee and an even better time.
When looking for a deeper inside look on the way Zumi’s was created, we instantly thought of Babesh Buhuju. Babesh, who is the brother of Zumi’s owner Umesh Buhuju, is a familiar face at the Ipswich location. As soon as someone walks in, Babesh is always there offering a warm smile and a comforting presence. Babesh educated us on the foundations of Zumi’s to give us a sense of how far the business has really come. The store opened in 2003 and the Buhuju family had little experience with the coffee industry. Babesh had worked in a coffee shop when he was younger, but the community was not nearly as large as the Ipswich community is. The family decided to put their all into the shop to make it the best they could for its customers. And that is exactly what they did. “It’s a connection with the people,” says Babesh, “Seeing you guys feels like my own kids, feels like my own family.” Babesh went on to talk about the customers and how they are the main factor to Zumi’s. “We want to earn the people, which is harder than earning money.” When we asked about the hiring process and how they chose who to serve the customers, Babesh explained that they admire the high school and college students who show interest in working at Zumi’s because he is able to learn about the younger generation and how to socially interact with the town of Ipswich considering he is not originally from here. The love for the store is not only from customers, but from the owners and especially Babesh. “When I come here, I am happy. Even when I am home, I think about here,” says Babesh when asked how frequently he is at Zumi’s. This passion for Zumi’s is what makes coming here so enjoyable, knowing that the store is in deep care. Babesh truly cares for the customers and shows this when he says, “Before you leave, let me know, because we DO care, if I have to stay longer, I will, I will wait until your parents get here.” Zumi’s is in great hands and will continue to flourish with this type of devotion. We wrapped up our time with Babesh by asking what his favorite part of Zumi’s is. He responds saying the customers and community are his favorite aspect and even mentions, “They are my future, you guys are my future.”
Whether it is an iced coffee, a hot chocolate, or even ice cream, Zumi’s provides a welcoming environment for all that walk in. It is no coincidence that Zumi’s is filled with people day after day and is constantly recommended by the citizens of Ipswich, Topsfield, and all surrounding towns. There have even been requests for longer store hours so that people can enjoy more time in Zumis! Some advice to take away from Tea Princi: “Go up and talk to Babesh; you won’t regret it. It makes for a good time spending your day here.”
