While Porter Square coffee stop Café Zing is only open for takeout service as it undergoes renovations, it’s expecting a return to normal operations in July.
The changes to the space, as the Day reported earlier this year, are part of ongoing renovations of the former Porter Square Shopping Center, recently rebranded The Mix | Porter Square by its owner, the Wilder Co. The driving catalyst, however, was Porter Square Books relocating to the Lesley Building in 2024. Café Zing was founded inside the bookstore and had shared space with it since opened back in 2005, but Zing proprietor Mark Ostow decided to stay put.
Because the update had the roof and walls being torn out, the plan initially looked to have Zing closing for several months during renovations. “There’s no way I’m going to close for that long,’” Ostow said he told Wilder “The only way I could not close was if we built the new café while we kept serving coffee over there.”
And that’s what has happened. Zing has remained open with a partition between the current Zing and the forthcoming space next door. Zing will close, but only for about a week next month to move the rustic wood counter — made by area woodworker Palo Coleman — to its new home. The outdoor patio will expand too and be more connected to the new entrance. Zing will also be open later into the evening than it was before and will add more offerings to its menu, including beer, wine, and additional food options. Folks will be able to sit outside and enjoy a glass of wine while noshing on the popular fresh spring rolls with peanut sauce.
The space also plans to become more of a communal hub. Ostow envisions reading groups, musical performances and even open-mic comedy.
While all the funky furniture and curio adornments that made up the Café’s interior are also slated to move to the new space, there will also be more photography and art on the wall when Café Zing 2.0, as Ostow calls it, opens next month, given Ostow’s own professional photography background.
Of the collaborative relationship with his landlord, “They’ve been wonderful,” Ostow said. “They wanted us to stay and said ‘We’re gonna make it worth your while.’”
As for the space that Zing will leave behind, nothing has been decided yet, but Tom Wilder of the Wilder Co., said that the hope was for something health- and community-focused like a Pilates or yoga studio.
A stronger
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