Proteus Bicycles will add a coffee bar to its new location at 9827 Rhode Island Ave. in College Park, the latest addition to the coffee boom along the Route 1 corridor.

The long-running bike shop received a permit this week from Prince George’s County to move ahead with the project and expects to finish construction in two months.

The coffee bar will serve espresso drinks, drip coffee and tea, with a grab-and-go fridge with soft drinks and juices. There will also be a large “community table” and smaller tables where people can hang out work meet up, and a large TV for bike races and movie nights.

Open Seas Roasters out of Kent Island will supply the beans, while Shortcake Bakery in Hyattsville will supply pastries.

Owner Laurie Lemieux told the Hyattsville Wire that the coffee bar has been in their plans since the shop moved to its current location next to Mom’s Organic Market one year ago.

“It’s been a dream to have a great community space where everyone feels welcome,” she said. “Proteus has always felt like the bar in ‘Cheers’ where everyone knows your name. The coffee bar will give us a chance to get to know our neighbors even better and give them a place where they’re comfortable hanging out.”

Coffee has always been popular among bicyclists. One reason is that it is very effective for long-distance bikers. In fact, the World Anti-Doping Agency used to limit intake to eight shots of espresso per day.

Lemieux said the new shop’s location at the northern end of the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail will also make it a prime spot for a “coffee ride.”

“We started doing coffee rides out of Proteus in about 2013 and now it’s a common destination ride throughout the region for a lot of shops,” she said. “People taking group rides from points south, like D.C., can stop at Proteus for refreshments and snacks. Our plan is to open early (like 7 a.m.) so folks can grab a coffee on their way to work, drop off a bike, or pick up a repair before work.”