New Coffee/Gathering Space Is Buzzing

After dusk, night after night, young crowds are swarming into an unassuming new coffeeshop on State Street to transform the place into an event hot spot — each time with a different reason to gather.

On a recent Tuesday night, the coffeehouse-by-day, event-space-by-night at the corner of State Street and Hine Place, Gather East Rock, overflowed with dozens of 20- or 30-somethings on couches and chairs, lining up against the walls, sitting on the floor. The lights were turned down. Soft acoustic music underscored the rumble of chatter as friends caught up while waiting for the trivia night to begin.

“You can’t take these stools, sorry. My friends are coming,” a man told me, looking up from work he was doing on his laptop, as I stuffed my bag and coat into a cubby near the back.

He introduced himself as Daniel Moraff and asked if I wanted to join his group. I obliged, because the friend who I thought was meeting me had just texted to cancel. 

Moraff’s friends were sweet when they arrived, admittedly a little late, with a pack of hard seltzers. The event was BYOB, with a suggested $5 corking fee. They all knew each other from Yale Law School. 

We lost trivia, even though I was pretty sure I was the only person who correctly identified ​“On & On” by Erykah Badu during the music speed round. The host, Eddie Daniels, didn’t fall for my attempt to convince him he had calculated our score incorrectly. He’d done this a lot.

The next night, at about the same time, the leather chairs and wooden side tables had all been stacked on top of each other in the way back, and the lights were up. Yoga mats sprawled across the floor, as instructor Kimberly Habasinski led a class through a series of poses, emphasizing attention to breath. 

When the yogis left, Ariel Unger took over the space to teach a group of competitive players a board game: Fluxx.

The next night, there was a birthday party for one of the regulars.

On Friday: a 10-year sober celebration performance for a local folk punk musician. He said some friends had flown out from Texas to congratulate him and see the show.

By day, Gather East Rock functions as a typical coffeeshop: patrons sip tea and negotiate for outlets to plug in their laptops. Students convene to collaborate on group assignments, pairs play rounds of chess in between work, and individuals peruse the bookshelf to find a poetry collection to occupy them for an hour.

And every day, someone new comes in to ask: ​“What is this place?”

“So, we’re a coffeeshop by day, and we function as a community event space in the evenings. You should come by! Tonight, we’re having…”

The owner, Sultan Thahir, has got the rap down. Hardly any newcomer leaves before taking a photograph of the giant chalkboard calendar on the wall, which advertises each night’s happenings.

The shop’s website illuminates the philosophy behind Thahir’s vision: ​“The power of gathering together is represented by a rally, where each individual’s strength is magnified by the collective power of a community. When gathered together with others, we are more powerful — even if, in some ways, we are also more vulnerable.”

“My goal is to offer great drinks and food at accessible prices. Profits generated go back into the East Rock community — paying artists and community organizers when revenue exceeds our overhead costs,” the site says.

The first day I stumbled into Gather, I was struck by the welcoming and warm ambiance. The cozy interior resembles a living room, decorated with books and board games, leather chairs and area rugs. A small stage sits at the front of the shop, adorned by a lush display of green vines and tin lanterns. Collages and paintings by local artists cover the walls, and polaroid pictures of customers and friends fill in the empty spaces.

As a first-time patron, I was doubtful of the legitimacy and attendance of the events I saw on the chalkboard. So I went to a live music show that Saturday, which was packed, and then to a single’s night for Valentine’s Day that Monday, which was packed, and then to trivia on Tuesday, which was packed.

I congratulated Thahir on the strong showing at the three events, only to find that nearly every event sees that level of attendance. And in the daytime, it’s just as busy.

The shop advertises events on the chalkboard, as well as on its Instagram page each week with accompanying graphics for every night.

Since opening in November, the space has served as an evening community space, subsidized by a daytime coffeeshop. In just four months, the space has become a bustling hub for young adults to enjoy live music, learn new skills, build friendships, and so much more.

Thahir moved to the neighborhood in August of 2021, with the goal of building a workshop-oriented environment for local artists to teach skills to community members. As a former film professor at Keene State College, Thahir aspired to bring lessons that are usually restricted to higher-education institutions — like 3D modeling and lighting design — to a broader audience.

“I decided to do a coffeeshop in the daytime in order to make those events free and feasible,” Thahir said. In the weeks after opening, Thahir found that the patrons were just as excited to host their own events in the space.

Trivia host Daniels learned about Gather from a post Thahir made on the New Haven subreddit, where Thahir asked for input on events people would like to see in the community. ​“There were a bunch of comments asking for a trivia night. I’d previously hosted my own trivia events at my apartment, so I walked over to Gather and introduced myself.”

Unlike other franchised trivia nights around the city, Daniels’ version is completely independent from a larger organization. He comes up with the questions himself, like how tall Danny Devito is or what year the dodo went extinct. Like most other nighttime events at Gather, trivia is BYOB, and there is no entry fee.

Daniels’ trivia nights are one of many recurring events: like Kim Habasinski’s yoga classes, Ariel Unger’s spotlight game nights, Raffaele Sindoni’s community meditation circles, and open mics. Sprinkled among the regular events are specialty occasions: a jazz record listening party, a yarn pop-up shop, a Scandinavian Folk Dance workshop, and various live music performances.

“Gather turns from folk dance floor to classical music venue to meditative chat space all within the span of a week — and for the most part, the people who come to love Gather are the same ones that come back and help run events for others,” said Melanie Dworak, who hosts regular Dungeons & Dragons nights at the space.

“One of my favorite things about the space is its fluid nature. If you want to contribute something or change something about the space, or even make the space your own for a night for an event, Sultan is all ears,” said Allie Nagelski, a doctorate student who can be found most days at the coffeeshop. ​“I’ve never met someone who dedicates themselves so tirelessly to the effort of community building, and it’s been one of the most beautiful things I’ve experienced and been a part of this year.”

“The more I got to know people, and the more people that came in, the more I realized that it’s better to morph the space into something that the community wants,” Thahir said.

On the weekends, Thahir typically books bands to perform music. Last Sunday, a garage-pop future punk trio from Providence stopped along their East Coast tour for a show.

The group, Baby; Baby: Explores the Reasons Why that Gum is Still on the Sidewalk, incited an impulse to dance among the audience. Game night host Unger and I moved the chairs from in front of the stage to make room to groove. Unger called the set refreshing: the trio’s funky electronic style differed from most of the acoustic folk you find on State Street.

Chris Barone, a drummer who frequently performs in scheduled sets and sometimes will hop on for an impromptu jam session, said that he is grateful for the wealth of creative artists he has met at the space.

“In the short time that Gather has been open, I’ve met over thirty new daily acquaintances, become friends with a special few, learned how to play new board games, tried restorative yoga, experienced the beautiful sounds of a fancy quartet, have heard great local pro musicians, local amateur musicians, and touring out of state bands. Like, what?!” Barone said. ​“Sultan has officially broken the mold, and I, for one, am grateful and a huge fan.”

A few weeks ago, Barone collaborated with Model Decoy — Doron Monk Flake and Ari Sadowitz — and Haneef Harris for a rock and R&B performance. Watch a clip below.

With a slim budget, Thahir runs the space entirely on his own. He painted the walls, installed the flooring, strung the lights, and serves coffee every day. Thahir once said that the only thing he hired someone else to do was paint the ceilings — only after he tried to do so himself.

“I live near Gather and watched the coffeeshop being built. I’d get home from work at 3 a.m., and Sultan and friends would still be in the shop putting things together. It’s been a labor of love since the beginning,” said James Maldonado, a regular at the coffeehouse.

Maldonado said their favorite day at Gather was ​“the great snowstorm of January.” Gather was one of the only places open on State Street. That day it ​“turned into a community hangout. People skied by, walked by, and slipped by. Strangers played games together, shared beers, and all around had a great day hiding from the snow.”

Maldonado is among a group of regulars you can find on any given day at Gather. Thahir has not only created a coffeeshop and art space — he has cultivated a warm community of friends.

“I’ve never been to a place where people are so open and willing to make friends. There’s something about the way Sultan has set things up that circumvents the initial anxiety of getting to know new people,” said Daniels. ​“I’ve lived in this neighborhood for five years, and I’ve never met as many of my neighbors as I have in the past four months since Gather opened.”

Yoga host Habasinski agreed: ​“I found Gather at a pivotal point in my life. Sultan was welcoming and excited about bringing the community together. The connections I’ve made at Gather have brought me so much joy, comfort and support. I am forever grateful that I have been welcomed into this wonderful community!” said Habasinski.

“The most special part about Gather is the community and the people. You come for a coffee, and you stay for a string quartet,” said Beckett Morris, as she passed through the East Rock coffeeshop for the second time that day, with a promise to return later.

“I appreciate how a lot of the people here care about similar social issues that I do. I can come here to bool and be my stupid self, but also I could come to have a conversation about how big corporations are gaslighting us into thinking that we are the problems in climate change. You can really go for one or the other,” Morris said.

Inbar Livne, another regular, echoed the sentiment: ​“Sultan and the people Gather attracts create a welcoming non-judgmental atmosphere where I feel free to just be.”

Morris said that she was moved by how Thahir came into the community, built something beautiful, and received so much enthusiastic support. ​“It’s the healthiest cult I’ve ever been in,” Morris laughed.

“Everyone that walks in contributes to the space if only with their presence. The events each evening create a container where we can interact safely while having fun. Relationships built on having fun together, sharing joy in connection, and mutual respect for everyone’s sovereignty are robust and fulfilling,” said Tim Kukharchuk, Thahir’s childhood friend, who often drives down from Massachussets to attend events.

“I love that it’s a space where I can go to get school work done but also where I can chat or play games with folks or see live music when I need a study break. It’s been such a treat having it in my neighborhood! And can’t overlook the amazing tea selection,” said Shelby H, who moved to the area in October.

“Gather is my dream coffee shop. A place to not only get delicious beverages and treats — I highly recommend their Honey Bush tea! — but also to experience a friendly, community environment with so many wonderful events. I have been blown away by every performance that I’ve seen there. I don’t know how Sultan finds all this talent. It’s also great to meet New Haveners that you usually wouldn’t get to interact with,“ said Wengel Kifle.

For many post-grads and young professionals, the space has provided ample opportunity to socialize after two years of pandemic isolation.

“It’s been vital to the community to have this space to connect and, frankly, gather in a time when this has been so hard due to the isolation that accompanies a global pandemic,” said Nagelski.

“Everyone I’ve met there is always so warm and personable, you feel like you’re among friends. With everything going on in the world right now, I think everyone is searching for meaningful connections, and Gather provides the perfect space for that,” said Melissa Jensen, who first came to support her friend Daniels for his trivia night, and now frequents the space.

“At some level, it can be a bit addicting. I’ve gone on week-long binges where I’ve been to events every night. If you know a place where you’ll be loved and accepted as soon as you walk in, why would you go anywhere else?” said Daniels.

“Gather enriches the East Rock community by fostering a creative space that inspires connection. Especially after the pandemic, having a place to meet new friends in the area and share exciting experiences has been so awesome. Sultan and Peanut” — Thahir’s puppy — ​“make the space feel welcoming to all,” said Liz Moraites.

“The fact that Gather has exploded like it has indicates that there are those of us who seek something else. Whether we can sustain such a place, or whether it will be crushed by an unsentimental market, remains to be seen,” said Moraff.

Thahir said that the greatest thing he has learned since opening the shop is how easy it is to make friends while bonding over an event. ​“When you’re fixated on a trivia night or a board game, it’s so much easier to strike up conversations, meet new people, know your neighbor. The idea of going to an event to make a new friend is so fuckin’ 2000s. Rather than relying on Bumble BFF or trying to meet people at a bar, it feels more organic. It’s surprising that more spaces don’t focus on community above everything else.”