Explore NYC: Marathon Coffee

c/o Marathon Coffee

As the winter chill sets in and we repeatedly forget our gloves at home, it becomes clear that warm drinks are best equipped to heat our hands and soothe our consistently sore throats. While the Dalton neighborhood has an abundance of cafés to grab such drinks from, one that is often underrated — and among the closest to school — makes an ideal spot. Seeing as many Dalton students are avid coffee drinkers, this fact is crucial in order for them to be able to return in time for their next class. Located at 89th and 3rd Ave for nearly two years, Marathon Coffee, with its blue cups and pink lids, has become a neighborhood staple. A small location, its glass facade would easily be missed if not for the blue chairs on the sidewalk in the chain’s classic shade. In order to learn more about the store and its history, The Daltonian sat down with the chain’s owner, Jon Hadad.

Can you tell me a bit about the history of the business and location? When did you open in this area and why?

We opened our first store which is located in Chelsea in 2020 a few months after quarantine ended. We opened the Upper East Side location near Dalton about a year later, in 2021, because we really love the neighborhood. I grew up on 79th street so I know it really well. I’ve had a lot of friends that live up there and love the neighborhood vibe, and it’s overall a very busy area. We found a shop that would exactly suit our needs, so we signed the lease pretty soon thereafter.

When most people think of coffee, they probably don’t think of the word marathon. Why did you choose to include it in the store’s name?

The history really is more personal for me. The name truly stems from starting the business and how challenging it was. I ended up choosing the name at the very end of the journey to indicate how up and down the process was. It really was a reflection of not only my journey but what I feel others’ are when you do something that is difficult and challenging but worthwhile in the end.

On a more personal note, why did you decide to go into the café space?

I worked in finance straight out of college for a couple years, and I didn’t particularly like being at a desk in a 9 to 5 job. I was looking at something I could do for myself, and coffee was, as a 24-year-old, the easiest — or what I thought would be the easiest — to get off the ground. It required the lowest amount of capital and space. I really enjoy people, community, and selling things, and I knew I wanted to do something within the hospitality realm; I knew I would need to start really, really small and figured I could start with a small coffee shop and go from there.

What’s your favorite warm beverage on the menu?

I’m a pretty classic coffee guy: cold brew, no milk and no sugar. I like it any time of the year — I actually just drank it today. For a specialty item, I’d probably go for a brown sugar spice latte, which is one of our fall items. We’re migrating to the winter menu now, but I think it’s a really nice latte and has great flavor.

What would you recommend?

I recommend talking to our baristas. As a local mom-and-pop shop, we really pride ourselves on our staff more than anything else. From their warmth and smiles when you walk in, we want this to be a pleasurable experience from the second you enter to the second you leave. That starts with our staff, and if you have any questions they know anything and everything they need to know to answer them.

What do you hope Dalton students know about you?

Pretty soon, we’ll be launching cookies baked fresh in-store. I would like for the Dalton kids to know we have this option, in different flavors as well, in addition to the more traditional pastries we’ve been offering for 2 years. I know our pastries are really popular with them, so hopefully this will add to their options. We’re working with a bakery downtown who is going to deliver their dough to us, and then we’ll bake it in-store. They’ll offer something sweeter and more unique — think along the lines of a Levain or Crumbl cookie.

Having returned to the store a couple of times following my interview with Hadad, I have been pleasantly surprised by the consistent warmth of the baristas and their willingness to assist customers and ensure they feel welcome. While small, Marathon houses a cozy environment — which is a definite refuge from the biting cold outside — and makes a great place to find a quick snack, coffee, or moment to take a breath.