Coffee Shops in Perrysburg & Maumee That Believed in Iron Bean Coffee From the Start

When we started Iron Bean Coffee, we weren’t just trying to roast beans — we were trying to build a community. Along the way, a few special shops gave us not just shelf space, but their trust, their friendship, and their belief in what we were doing.

Two of those shops — The Bard’s Coffee in Perrysburg and Levi & Lilacs Coffee Pub & Whiskey Room in Maumee — have been with us pretty much from the start, and we’re long overdue in thanking them publicly.

We’re also blessed to have Iron Bean served at other great businesses, and we’ll be sharing their stories in upcoming blogs. For this one, though, we want to shine the spotlight on the two who were there from the very beginning.

The Bard’s Coffee Perrysburg – A Coffeehouse for Community, Music, and Conversation

Owner: Chris – musician, thinker, community builder.

The Bard’s Coffee is more than just a stop in Perrysburg — it’s a heartbeat. Chris is not only a dedicated shop owner but a talented musician who’s deeply involved in the community. If you sit and chat with him, you’ll find he has some of the most interesting conversations — sharp, witty, and genuine. He takes his coffee seriously but never forgets to make people laugh.

The Atmosphere

Bard’s has that real coffeehouse feel — not the overhyped chain vibe where everyone’s just passing through with earbuds in. Here, you can get work done, hold a meeting, or simply sit with a cup and a Danish while hearing the quiet buzz of conversation and laughter. It’s calm but alive — focused but friendly.

The Community Feel

Walk in, and chances are someone knows you. People wave, talk, and connect. It’s not just coffee — it’s community.

The Music

Chris’s love of music is woven into Bard’s DNA. You might’ve seen him performing at the Toledo Zoo — that same passion shows in how he runs his shop and treats his customers.

Coffee & Roast Notes at Bard’s

Chris leans toward our dark roasts, loving those bold, deep notes. He carries Ride or Die (and sometimes flavored options), but his heart lives in the darker side of coffee. And if you want something special? Just ask — he’ll make it happen.

A Touch of History

The Bard’s sits in one of downtown Perrysburg’s historic blocks on Louisiana Avenue — a structure dating back to the 1800s, once home to the Eagle Hotel and later the Baird House. Today, it’s Bard’s that keeps those walls alive with coffee, conversation, and connection.

Levi & Lilacs Coffee Pub & Whiskey Room – Maumee’s Historic Coffee Bar That Serves Iron Bean Coffee

Owners: Sean & Megan – partners in business, life, and laughter.

Over in Maumee, you’ll find Sean and Megan — the duo behind Levi & Lilacs. From day one, they chose to brew Iron Bean Coffee — and they’ve treated us like family ever since.

The Setting

Located in the Governor’s Inn (circa 1836), the space has been a stagecoach stop, post office, and general store. Today, it’s a warm, welcoming coffee pub that blends historic charm with a modern touch. Inside, it’s cozy. Outside, the patio’s perfect for sipping under the Maumee sky.

Beyond Coffee

Their energy doesn’t stop there — they also opened a nearby pizzaria (Uptown Pizzaria) and a Whiskey Room (Levi & Lilacs) next door featuring 200+ labels. Many of our best dinners and longest laughs have happened right there.

A Fun Role-Reversal We’ve Joked About

We’ve often joked that one day, we’ll swap roles — they’ll roast beans at Iron Bean while we pull shots at their espresso bar.

Now, we can roast all day long… but behind an espresso machine? Let’s just say customers might ask, “What did I just order?” Meanwhile, Sean and Megan would stare at the roaster like it’s a spaceship.

It hasn’t happened yet, but if it ever does, it’ll be one chaotic, hilarious day.

Coffee & Roast Notes at Levi & Lilacs

Their go-to favorite: Ride or Die — bold, fearless, and crowd-approved. They don’t carry every roast we make, but they’ll order anything their customers want. It’s not about volume; it’s about serving what people truly love.

The Haunted History of Levi & Lilacs (and My Bathroom Scare)

Levy & Lilacs has more than coffee and whiskey — it has stories. Local folklore says the building is haunted. People talk about the “Lilac Lady,” a spirit said to wander the halls, leaving the faint smell of lilacs behind. Others say Levi Beebe, the building’s original owner, still checks in from time to time — maybe stopping for a drink in the Whiskey Room.

And then there’s the old tunnel that supposedly ran from the basement to the Maumee River — once used for the Underground Railroad and later for whiskey smuggling. Whether you believe it or not, it adds a little mystery to every visit.

Now, let me tell you about my first time actually sitting down at Levi & Lilacs and heading into the lavender bathroom. You know that feeling when you walk into your own bathroom, the shower curtain is closed, and you don’t really want to open it because what if something’s behind it? That was me.

Standing there alone, all I could think was:
“Do I have time to pull my pants up if something jumps out? Am I about to run out mid-pee and scare every other customer in the shop? Or worse, am I going to trip over myself and end up flat on the bathroom floor while the ghost laughs?”

I wasn’t sure if I should take my time or just make it the fastest “waterfall pee” of my life. 😂
That’s how much the history (and the stories) got in my head. Creepy? Sure. But it’s also part of the charm. Great coffee, good friends, and just enough spook to make you wonder if that lilac scent is from Megan’s candles — or the Lilac Lady herself.

Iron Bean’s Storefront, Our Partnership, and Shared Availability

Iron Bean Coffee Company operates out of a storefront — but it’s not your typical walk-in café. It’s primarily a roastery and fulfillment space, where we roast beans, fill online orders, and manage pickups. Occasionally, customers stop in to grab a bag, but our public hours are limited.

That’s another reason we’re so thankful for partners like Bard’s and Levy & Lilacs.
If someone stops by Iron Bean and we’re closed, they can still grab their favorite roasts from either of those shops.

Why Supporting Local Coffee Shops Matters in Perrysburg and Maumee

Bard’s Coffee and Levi & Lilacs represent two distinct coffee experiences: one a quiet, community-centered stop in Perrysburg; the other an ambiance-rich, historic coffee bar in Maumee. But what ties them together is their belief in Iron Bean and their commitment to serving their customers well.

Chris, Sean, and Megan didn’t just stock our beans — they gave us encouragement, credibility, and friendship. They’ve helped our coffee reach people even when our own doors were closed.

So here’s to them: two shops, two unique vibes, and two sets of owners who feel like part of our Iron Bean family.

We’ll be sharing more blogs in the future to recognize other shops and businesses that support us (and even some lessons from places that didn’t work out as well). But today belongs to Bard’s Coffee and Levi & Lilacs — because from the start, they’ve been with us every step of the way.

Our Gratitude and Appreciation

As we look back on the years of working together, what stands out is the dedication and consistency these shops have shown. They’re not just businesses that opened their doors and hoped for the best — they’ve proven themselves strong, authentic, and grounded. Their history, their effort, and their commitment to both their customers and their community speak for themselves.

The partnerships we share with Chris, Sean, and Megan show that when people are authentic and family-driven, their work lasts. These shops aren’t just here today and gone tomorrow. They’re here to stay.

They’re proof of what dedication, passion, and a genuine love for coffee — and people — looks like.

That’s why we encourage everyone to stop in, support them, and experience it for yourself. Because the best coffee isn’t just about flavor — it’s about the family and community behind it