Have you ever wondered what a blast from the past might taste like? 

Grant Community High School science teacher, Michael Anderson, is opening Old Soul, a new coffee shop in Genoa City, Wis., just north of Richmond, Ill. The shop is inspired by the late 20th century and the memories that shaped his childhood.

Anderson, usually spotted around campus with a coffee in hand, originally considered launching a small food truck, but the idea of a coffee shop soon took hold. It captured his imagination and his heart. He wanted a place where he could relive his childhood and share it with others,

“[I’m opening it] to keep me sane, to keep me going, to give me hope in life, to give me something to look forward to,” said Anderson.

He hopes Old Soul becomes a warm, welcoming place for the community.

“It’ll be a nice place to hang out, go on a date, do your homework or just get away from things for a while. I just want families to come together for meeting time,” he said.

Old Soul carries a nostalgic charm, housed in an early 1900s building with vintage touches throughout. Visitors can relax by a fireplace, challenge a friend at a chess table or stop by the mini movie theater inside the shop’s library.

The library features a small TV that will play films from the era, along with shelves of books that influenced Anderson as a child.

A larger theater area will offer additional seating for screenings of films from the 1940s and 1950s, complete with popcorn. The shop will also feature classic games such as Space Invaders, Pac-Man, shuffleboard, skee-ball, miniature bowling and a pool table for those who stop by.

Whether someone wants to relax, grab a coffee or take a trip down memory lane, Old Soul aims to offer a space to gather, play and connect.

Next time you see Anderson, maybe it’ll be at his coffee shop and not in Earth Science. Be sure to stop by.