Oasis brews blend of coffee, performances

Just a few weeks after Miel Bon Bons confectionery left Carr Mill Mall, a new coffee shop has brought activity back into the space.

Oasis, a blend between a coffee shop and a performance venue, has spent its first weeks holding a series of different events to draw in crowds.

Saturday, the shop hosted local musician Gregory Blaine, who took to the stage and performed traditional reggae, jazz and blues music.

The business seeks to provide patrons with a space to unwind and connect with one another, said owner Robert Roskind.

“We’ve created a space that is so relaxing and so beautiful … that would be healing for people and able to restore them,” Roskind said.

Oasis offers a variety of organic beverages — including coffee, beer and wine — and an assortment of baked goods.

Like many businesses in Carrboro, Oasis embraces fair trade. All of the shop’s baked goods come from local bakers — either businesses or individuals — specializing in organic or gluten-free baking.

The shop hosts events throughout the week, which include open-mic nights where people can speak or read poetry, musical events that include local artists and weekday sessions on life-affirming messages.

Previous programs have covered topics ranging from sustainability to outdoor sports to love and forgiveness — all delivered by professionals or ordinary people looking to share their experiences.

“It was really wonderful to be able to share with people in an environment that supports that,” said Allegra Gulino, a Carrboro resident who gave a presentation at Oasis last week.

Music events take place on the weekends, and Oasis hosts local artists, like Blaine, and other small groups.

“I’m excited about this (coffee shop) because it is going to have programs and more of an emphasis on community,” said Lisa Aldred, a Carrboro resident who attended the concert.

Roskind opened Oasis in Carrboro after years of traveling and writing novels on his experiences.

He said he feels that Oasis is different from other coffee shops because of its serene nature.

“It is going to support, in a more spiritual sense, the community,” Gulino said.

Gulino said she thought the business would give back to Carrboro in a unique way.

“It gives (Carrboro) a voice, it gives (it) a home, it gives a place to share your stories and a place to communicate about issues that you might not hear about in other places,” she said.

Contact the desk editor at city@dailytarheel.com.