reportedly

The small caf é on Maple Street has been closed for months , yet it was reportedly scheduled to reopen this week . On Tuesday morning I walked past and noticed fresh paint and a new sign , which made the familiar corner feel unexpectedly bright . A young man inside was arranging chairs and , when I asked if they would accept customers , he gave a tentative smile and explained they were finishing the last details before a soft opening . He mentioned that the proprietor wanted the atmosphere to be relaxed , so they planned to limit service to pastries and coffee at first . I left with a small sense of anticipation , deciding to return once the schedule was confirmed and the espresso machine had its first proper test .