It is opening week for Thinking Cup, a new coffee shop at 236 Hanover Street in Boston’s North End, featuring “Stumptown Coffee” in a European-style cafe with about 60 seats. Similar to its first location on Tremont Street at Boston Common, the new establishment will offer espresso, lattes, teas, sandwiches and pastries.
Both neighborhood groups, NEWRA and NEWNC, supported the zoning changes presented by owners/operators Hugh Geiger and Andre Sadowski, that were subsequently passed by the City’s Zoning Board to allow for the opening in the space previously occupied by jewelry store, Filthy Rich. Thinking Cup does not have an alcohol license, nor has it applied for one at this time.

The exterior signage labels the establishment as a “patisserie” and “coffee bar.” A patisserie refers to a French or Belgian bakery specializing in pastries or sweets, usually with a licensed master pastry chef. At Thinking Cup, that role is filled by Thao Nguyen-Rich (previously at Sofra, Upstairs on the Square and Clio). Nguyen-Rich intends to offer cannoli similar to nearby Modern, Mike’s, Bova’s and Maria’s Pastry as well as Caffe Paradiso across the street.
The executive pastry chef told Chowder, “We are going to definitely have cannoli—we want to be right in there between Modern Pastry and Mike’s, and try to show them up,” she says. “We will be doing other classics like tiramisu and zeppole.”
Shown here are some opening photos of the new Thinking Cup in the North End. (Photos by Matt Conti.)
Photos by Matt Conti.