Braintree Couple Opens Neighborhood Coffee Shop

Until late last year, when Braintree residents wanted a cup of coffee or breakfast sandwich from a non-chain shop, they had to venture out of town. That all changed when Dorsey and Katie Connolly opened M&M Cafe, 25 Elm Street in Braintree Square.

The shop, which has been open for about four months, offers free parking and wi-fi and is already popular for meetings, job interviews, and of course, friends meeting for a cup of coffee. 

After some renovations the Connollys, who have lived in Braintree for over 10 years, transformed the Minutemen Hobby Shop into the cafe they'd talked about owning for years. With some discussion, Dorsey, who is from South Boston, and Katie, who hails from Dorchester, decided on the name M&M Cafe, after their children Meghan, 11, and Michael, 8.

How would you describe your business to someone who's never been here?

Katie Connolly: It's a neighborhood coffee shop. 

Dorsey Connolly: It's just simple. It's for someone who wants to have a nice clean, comfortable place to come, meet and have fun. It's something you can't get in Braintree right now. You get fresh pastries, a seat, free parking. I would say it's just a nice place to meet a friend for coffee.

You opened in November, how has business been?

DC: It's been good. The neighborhood has been very receptive. It's picking up again, which is nice. I think the warm weather helps.

What are your most popular offerings on the menu?

DC: The biggest coffee we have right now is our banana hazelnut. It's a brand new flavor. Our biggest offering would be our breakfast sandwiches, without a doubt.

KC: The gluten free items are popular.

You mentioned you're unique to Braintree, how do you separate yourselves from cafes in other towns?

DC: Two things. I think one, the gluten free menu helps. And all the pastries and all the food are fresh daily. They're brought on the premises fresh every morning. 

What made you decide to get into this business?
KC: Well, I love coffee (laughs). It's hard, I don't want to go to a chain. I don't really care for the chain coffees. We've been taking about it on and off for a long time. Braintree really needed a spot like this. Just someplace people can get a cup of coffee. It's a mom and pop shop.

DC: The opportunity presented itself and we said "You know what? We've been saying we want to do it; let's do it." We live around the corner. It's a great spot. 

Do you have any specials?

DC: We have a breakfast sandwich special we do Monday through Friday. It's a sandwich and a coffee for $4.99. We try to mix the coffee flavors and keep adding stuff and taking stuff away to keep things fresh.

KC: We try to bring in different things every week just to vary what we have.