Clara's to brew last pot of coffee

Ron Gorlesky compares the downtown coffee and sandwich shop he and his wife have run for the past 14 years to a Broadway show.

It's been lot of hard work and a lot of fun. But time has come to move on, he says.

Clara's Coffee and Cafe at 344 King St. will hold its final curtain call Saturday. The shop's lease has expired, and the landlord plans to put an antique shop in the space.

Gorlesky and wife Nancy, known as "Papa" and "Miss Noodle" to regulars, say they'd been contemplating retirement for some time. The James Island couple plan to take a few months off to plot their next move.

In the meantime, their loyal customers will be searching for a new hangout.

"There's no other place like it on King Street," said dance instructor Robert Ivey, who has been a Clara's regular for years. "You feel like you have a little bit of ownership here because they make you feel so welcome."

The Gorleskys moved to Charleston from Florida, charmed by the Holy City during a vacation. Looking for work they could do together, they opened Clara's in 1993, naming the place after her grandmother.

Neither had restaurant experience: He was a retired lawyer, while she had a background in legal work and computer sales. But his love of good coffee, coupled with a magazine story about the growing popularity of coffee houses, convinced them to give the business a shot.

The quirky place near the College of Charleston became a popular spot for students and professors who were drawn by the cozy, laid-back atmosphere and fresh food.

The Gorleskys are now mulling various options, including opening a restaurant on Folly Beach or trying their hand at catering. They said they'll never be able to duplicate Clara's.

"We will miss the laughter, the fun, the drama," Nancy Gorlesky said.

Reach Caroline Fossi at cfossi@postandcourier.com or 937-5524.