Maintaining a unique bohemian ambiance in her shop, Briar Patch owner Terese Spingola has carved out a rare niche in downtown Sonoma and built a strong following of local patrons in the process. The Briar Patch carries a vast array of specialty coffees, teas and tobacco and is one of the few stores in Sonoma to carry shisha, the tobacco used when smoking a hookah. Spingola maintains a colorful inventory of hookah pipes and allows customers to smoke the intricate pipes at the few tables that line the cafe's entrance. Customers can sign up for the shop's mailing list to get information about upcoming special events at the cafe. Spingola said she looks forward to expanding her coffee and tea menu to include baked goods such as cookies and muffins in the near future.