Mj’s Coffeehouse At the Allen

A very special place! A very clean, comfortable, updated café and Main Street theatre, with good coffee, lattes, breakfast/​lunch, free wifi, and local art for sale. My favorites are the Turkey and Brie on focaccia, the tomato bisque, and the Hershey ice cream.
This place is a must visit if you’re in the area. The owner (Skip Hicks) is passionate about the arts and good food and drink. He is a most endearing soul and the energy here reflects that. You just want to stay forever. You’re welcome to take any food and drink from the café into the theater during the movie. How awesome is that. A true movie ‘house’.

Everything you want in a local coffeehouse. Average menu selection but it’s all done pretty decently. Atmosphere is perfect.

Literally waited 15 minutes and never saw one employee. What’s a coffeehouse-​goer to do? I played a little Star Wars on the piano, nothing. I even caught about five minutes of jersey boys. When I came out, lo and behold, someone was there! I ordered a frappé, and it was good not great. I won’t be coming back here again. Also it’s cash only.

I stopped in here for coffee bc the LVC campus coffee shop was closed. MJ’s offers one size of coffee …12 oz.
We went here the next day for half priced sandwiches. You can’t offer half priced sandwiches and then have one person in the kitchen! Our group of 8 received our sandwiches one at a time and we ate in shifts. The roast beef panini was good for 4.00 but I don’t think I would pay the full price of 8 bucks for it.
This place could be awesome but they need to clean and dust, get someone with a personality behind the register and a few more people in the kitchen.

As someone who drinks way too much coffee due to lack of sleep from attending LVC, I pop in here about once a week. ***As of at least 07÷03÷15, there is no more WiFi*** There is quite a bit of seating. Lots of neat pencil portraits and art pieces are on display as decorations and they often showcase local art from schools or even local artists’ works.
The atmosphere is very laid back and has been for over the year I’ve been a patron. I’ve still never had the food, but the coffee is always good and the staff is pretty nice. They added, then removed, and now readded iced coffee to the menu. They’ve also recently cut back the pump flavors for coffee to more sensible flavors (mango coffee = yuck!).
Oddly enough, I finally realized that they have shows here. I’m not sure why I never noticed the sound equipment, but I was here one night when some artists held an acoustic jam and spoken word night. It was a lot of fun.
The only complaint I have about the place any more is that occasionally they will host a live show and you’ll get chased out if you don’t buy tickets for the show. It has only happened to me once, but it was very jarring and aggravating as I had purchased a bottomless cup and only got two cups out of it. I know it is my fault, but I didn’t see any warning or I would have stayed home that night.

Place has potential. Second time here and the service is still very slow. Stood at the line for few minutes as the guy at the counter kept chatting away with the person in front of me. Walked away without acknowledgement as I kept standing there and a minute later different person came to take the order.
Ordered a pumpkin spice latte and it came out timely and fine. Prices are fair.
It’s either street parking in front or parking near the college, none in the back for them.
Might consider returning if I can’t find any other decent coffee shop in the area.
NOTE: Place is rather loud and has a restaurant atmosphere rather than a coffee shop. I went there to read and that task wasn’t accomplished well.

The atmosphere is great, but the service (like most places these days) leaves so much to be desired. I always ask for recommendations at a new place, and the young girl could offer nothing other than «it’s all good». Yea like that helps. Sandwich w/​chips (only option) was over $ 8.00 per person and not really worth it. Desserts looked stale and unappealing, maybe it was the wrong day of the week? Staff seemed bored and uninterested, and we had to bus our own table for a place to sit. Adjoining theater was nice but volume setting for the movie amazingly loud. Go w/​low expectations and you will be okay.

Had dinner at MJ’s on a Friday night before a movie at The Allen. The food was delicious. Their panini’s are everything a panini should be — hot the whole way through and delightfully crispy on the outside. I had a Pesto Ham and Mozzarella Panini, which was the day’s special. The prices are decent for what you get and the menu tends to the trendy & healthy side of things. Service was great and the atmosphere was quiet. They also have free wi-​fi which we took advantage of while we were waiting for our sandwiches to be ready.

The idea is wonderful and much needed in Annville. The execution of this idea, though… not so great. Three trips: 1) scorched espresso; 2) scorched espresso; 3) a cheesecake-​like dessert was still frozen when I ordered it, so the woman at the counter offered to heat it (she nuked it), and it arrived frozen in some parts and melted to liquid in others, PLUS (surprise!) scorched espresso. MJ’s has everything going for it: great spot, great atmosphere, great ideas. They just need to taste their own lattes to know how badly they’re making them.

This little coffeehouse is a great place to just chill and hang out. It attracts many college students from nearby Lebanon Valley College. They have games to use, and host open mic nights. The place is decorated with local artists work. A true artsy coffehouse, unlike the forced Starbucks atmosphere. Good food and coffee too.