The Plaza at Gateway Park & Globe Coffee

There’s a certain charm to The Plaza at Gateway Park & Globe Coffee that can only be appreciated when you walk up on a blue-sky afternoon and find the rink bustling with families, couples, and kids weaving in circles—sometimes on blades, sometimes on wheels depending on the season. It isn’t just a coffee shop, though the aroma of freshly pulled espresso mingles with the sweet waft of caramel cider and toasty s’mores. The Plaza is Neenah’s attempt at a town square reimagined for the Midwest’s unpredictable weather: firepits flickering in winter, patio tables scattered under open skies in summer. You’ll see parents sipping chai while children lace up their skates, teenagers snapping photos by the rink, and dogs slurping whipped cream from branded pup cups. Inside Globe Coffee itself, things are less about third-wave seriousness and more about community comfort. The menu leans familiar—drip coffee, cold brew that could use a touch more chill, sandwiches and wraps for lunch breaks or post-skate snacks. There are occasional stumbles: service can be uneven, staff sometimes distracted or unenthused, and event execution is not always in sync with expectations—especially if you’re hoping for seamless birthday parties or coordinated catering. Yet there’s an undeniable sense of place here. Locals gather for quick catch-ups before work or linger over hot chocolate after skating laps; visitors find themselves blending into this easy rhythm. The Plaza bridges generations—a modern gathering spot that nods to small-town traditions while offering space for Neenah to reinvent what “community center” means. It isn’t perfect, but it’s real: a patchwork of laughter, slightly clumsy hospitality, and genuine attempts at bringing people together year-round.