Rosalia family keeps the town's café alive

ROSALIA - Locals Ben and Alyssa Hale have expanded their coffeehouse "Hole in the Ground," into a café moving into the former Red Brick Café.

The couple lived in Malden before the town burned down in the 2020 Babb Road Fire and moving to Rosalia gave them the chance to expand the business they have had since 2001.

"We were living in a camper when we bought the other coffee shop," Alyssa Hale said, noting they were in process of rebuilding when they purchased a house in Rosalia.

Alyssa Hale said the café opened it's doors on Thursday, Jan. 2.

"We decided it was time to expand," she said. "We bought the building back in October and started getting it ready."

The café features breakfast, lunches, espressos and coffee.

Hale said her, Ben and their five kids have been doing well in the last couple of years since being in Rosalia.

"The last few days that we've been open at the café so many people come in that are excited to see places that families can come in with their kids, relax, play games and read," she said.

For the family, the community's support has been the best part.

"I absolutely love the community's support with everything we've been working towards with this building," she said. "Nothing but love and support."

Hale said everything was already in the building when they moved in, but they did have to put in an outlet for the coffee machine and they added some paint and new lights.

Hale said she is happy to have the community's support in opening a new business. "We're ready for the adventure ahead of us," she said.