Villageworks is a happy collection of spaces. The West Acton building is home to retail shops, restaurants, yoga studios, offices, and community gathering spots. Front and center is Acton Coffee, a popular gathering place for coffee, pastries, smoothies, and sandwiches. Owners Meredith and Chris Powell have injected new energy into the store since purchasing it last fall.
A recently installed colorful sign over the front door welcomes customers. Inside, the Powells have just completed a remodeling project to improve their clients’ experience. With new granite and quartz counters, new paint, new lighting, and new furniture, the store is refreshed. On one side of the main aisle natural oak and painted shelves display branded merchandise and bags of coffee beans and tea along with a selection of bottled drinks. A handsome oak cabinet sits on the floor under the shelves. On the other side is a shelving island with t-shirts, chocolate treats, protein bars, and oats.
As customers approach the register, they pass a display refrigerator with various drinks and yogurt. Pastries in a glass cabinet are next. Once at the register, customers are presented with a myriad of options for drinks including coffee, tea, espresso, pressed juices, smoothies. The Powells say the lattes, either hot or cold depending on the season, are their most popular offering. They have added cold foam on cold drinks, grab and go sandwiches, and plan to add more food options by the fall.
The Powells estimate that 20-30 people walk from their homes to shop at their store. A walkable West Acton center, seasonal patio seating, and the playground across the street make the area popular and beneficial to their operation.
Chris Powell has extensive experience in the food industry. Meredith is a personal trainer with a background in interior decorating. Her artistic talents are on display in the store both inside and out. She says: “I’m here for branding help, vibe curation, social media support, signage, kind of the behind-the-scenes packaging of Acton Coffee as an entity with a voice and a personality.”
In the recent past the Powells owned Orange Door Kitchen in the space now occupied by Silver Girl. The owner of the property, Matthias Rosenfeld, had a good relationship with the Powells and kept them informed about other retail opportunities in the neighborhood. Rosenfeld also owns Villageworks and, when the owners of Acton Coffee signaled their desire to retire, the Powells began negotiations.
The Powells bought Acton Coffee from long time owners Bill and Hanna Ray in November 2025. The Rays, as teachers, travelled extensively during their vacations. Wherever they went they would always search for a cup of “good coffee.” They were still teaching when they had the opportunity to buy Café Ziba in the Acton Woods Plaza in 2010. Their daughter worked at Café Ziba and was instrumental in the sale of the operation to her parents.
The three opened Acton Coffee in 2011. In 2016 they moved to the newly built Villageworks. Mathias Rosenfield developed the property and was supportive of the Rays as they outfitted the new space. Mr. Rosenfeld gets high marks from both the Powells and the Rays as a benevolent landlord.
Acton Coffee 525 Mass Ave 978 263 3700
M-F 7:00-4:30, Sat 7:00-5:00, Sun 7:30-4:30.
actoncoffee.com instagram.com/actoncoffee facebook.com/ActonCoffee01720
Jeff Brown is the Acton Exchange’s business beat reporter.
