For the last three and a half years, Rhonda McDonald and Kathy VanDerworp have been working as coffee vendors at the Downtown Phoenix Public Market, but they've recently taken the leap into full-time coffee shop ownership.
Coffee & Tea Express (5835 W. Palmaire Ave., Ste. E, in Glendale) has been open since November, but today is the official grand opening celebration, with hourly prize drawings, thank you gifts, live entertainment, and an artist showcase. Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs will conduct a ribbon cutting at 2 p.m.
Besides, um, coffee and tea, Coffee & Tea Express serves pastries and breakfast sandwiches, plus a lunchtime menu of sandwiches, a daily soup, and salads utilizing produce from Seacat Gardens, another farmer's market fave.