COOS BAY - Ric Morrisonn doesn't drink coffee. But he is betting his retirement savings that plenty of people will do just that at his bistro-style eatery on Anderson Avenue.

Ric's Posto Bella, slated to open in spring, will feature more than caffeinated beverages, with light meals, live performances and cultural events planned.

But it is the little brown bean that motivated Morrisonn to enter the restaurant business.

“We did some research and found that the comfort food business was fairly recession-proof,” he said Tuesday. “Krispy Kreme Doughnuts started during the Depression because, even though people were living in the streets, they still managed to get a cup of coffee and a doughnut.”

Unlike the destitute of the 1930s, Posto Bella customers will have a wide selection of drinks to choose from in a well-appointed setting. In addition to a 40-seat dining room, antique furniture and a plush-cushion sitting area, guests will be sidle up to an espresso bar with a fully trained barista at their service.

“Barista is an art. It has a lot of nuance to it,” Morrisonn said. “At other places, you get a nice espresso, and then you go back two weeks later and it's not as good. But if you come back here in a month, or even a year, it will still taste the same.”

Posto Bella will offer a variety of European pastries, primarily from France and Italy, but also from Portugal, Spain and Greece. Soups, salads and sandwiches - made from organic produce when available -will round out the offerings.

“Our credo is unique. We are not going to rubber stamp what is out there already,” Morrisonn said. “We want to be a step or two above the norm. That's why we have the upscale decor.”

In addition to sprucing up the interior, Morrisonn plans to significantly renovate the storefront, adjacent to the old J.C. Penney building, with some of his own handiwork. A producer of customized ornamental work for the last 30 years, Morrisonn will install a new facade with ornamental tiles, arches composed of high-density foam and heavy mahogany doors with beveled French panes. Earlier this month, Ric's Posto Bella was one of three businesses to receive a facade grant from the Urban Renewal Agency to subsidize exterior improvements.

Although the city will contribute about $25,000 through the grant, Morrisonn said he has invested much of his retirement savings into the 10,000-square-foot building.

“This building is our retirement,” he said. “It beats the stock market.”

In hopes of attracting customers, Morrisonn plans to schedule Friday and Saturday night musical activities and eclectic events with a Celtic flair.

Local jazz groups have been encouraged to come out, as well as any acoustic musical ensemble. Two duet teams already have expressed interest, one comprised of marimba and standup base; the other featuring a hammer dulcimer and Morrisonn on bodhran, an Irish drum.

“We just want to keep it interesting all the time,” he said.

On a more infrequent basis, the restaurant will feature movie nights, Celtic sessions and shanty sings. The Celtic sessions were suggested by Joan Emm, Morrisonn's wife, who is a photographer.

“The idea is to have someone local, who is doing something interesting, whether as a writer, an artist or a political activist, come in and present what they are doing” he said. “They will do their thing, and Joan will record the event.”

The shanty sings program, which Morrisonn admits might be a harder sell, requires a little explanation.

“A shanty sing is an old maritime tradition when you have someone sing a verse and then everyone else comes in with the chorus,” he said. “Since the area has such a rich maritime tradition, it might catch on. It's a heck of a lot of fun if people get into it.”

With his bright blue eyes flashing, his goateed chin supporting a toothy smile and a beret atop his head, Morrisonn looked the part of a coffee house entrepreneur.

Even if he doesn't drink the stuff.