Document text
SUNNY Temp: 53 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, November 21, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 16, 2002 Gold Hill resident Mel Peat, who grew up in Yorkshire, England, bought a 1950 double-decker bus through eBay and has converted it into an espresso drive-through. Mail Tribune / Andrew Mariman A Gold Hill resident has a buzzin’ bus business By SANNE SPECHT for the Mail Tribune GOLD HILL — Look twice. That bright red double-decker English tour bus sitting at the south end of Gold Hill on Highway 99 isn’t waiting to take tourists to the Oregon House of Mystery. It’s really a drive-through espresso shop. Owner Mel Peat, who grew up in Yorkshire, England, says his vision of converting a double-decker bus into an espresso drive-through seemed natural to him. He felt the mix of history and unique storefront would provide an excellent marketing opportunity for his espresso business. "I love the old bus. She’s a beauty," says Peat. "I think it will draw people in to have a coffee." Manufactured in May of 1950, the 27-foot-long, seven-ton double-decker bus shuttled tourists around London until it was transported to Southern California and then British Columbia to continue it’s life in the touring business. From there the half-century old AEC Regent Mark 111 bus continued to decline as it drifted between owners in Washington and Oregon until eventually it was again offered for sale. After months of searching for a double-decker, Peat found the bus on eBay in February. He put in the winning bid and had the bus hauled from Portland to his home in Rogue River. A former industrial sandblaster, Peat spent 10 weeks from start to finish rehabbing the bus for its new life as a coffee kitchen. He says he spent eight days from dawn to dusk sanding off up to 15 coats of old paint and used eight gallons of red enamel to repaint the bus, which is still non-operable. The bus is simply the latest in Peat’s search to find that perfect blend between marketing and business in the retail coffee biz. Four years ago, Peat rehabbed an ambulance and was schlepping coffee to businesses in Grants Pass as "Dr. Hazbean." Unfortunately, all that driving around cut into his profits and his other job, so he sold the ambulance and retired as an "espresso-medic" Peat says he seriously considered making the double-decker into a mobile coffee-house, but says insurance and repair costs makes that idea presently unfeasible. "What do I do if a part breaks? I can’t find a replacement very easily; that’s for sure," says Peat. He freely admits to a certain willingness to go that extra mile when it comes to marketing. He says his next search will be for a 747 airplane to convert to the ultimate drive-through coffee shop. "Can’t you just see a big 747 as a drive-through?" asked Peat. "People driving up. Looking. Wow!" Meanwhile, Peat says business has been a bit slow in Gold Hill. In fact, he says he’d like to find a new location for his double-decker espresso business that also serves chai tea, hot chocolate, fruit smoothies and Italian sodas. "I tried over 25 different locations in Medford, but never found one that seemed interested. Maybe people will think again now that she’s up and doing business," says Peat. "It’s the only thing of its kind in Oregon, I would say." Sanne Specht is a free-lance writer living in Rogue River. Reach her at [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S