The newest Alterra coffee shop opens this Friday morning in the Fifth Ward Foundry Building, 170 S. 1st St., joining existing restaurant tenant, The Social.

Manager Patrick Dempsey says things are on track for a Friday mid-morning opening and for regular hours to begin on Saturday, Jan. 7.

"We're just finishing up some last-minute details, and things are running smoothly," says Dempsey, who is also the manager of Alterra at the Lake.

"Alterra at the Foundry" features a menu very similar to Alterra at the Lake's menu -- although lakefront food lovers will note the menu there will soon be updated -- with similar soups, sandwiches and salads.

New additions at the foundry location are planned for the near future, including tea service (pots of tea instead of cups) and French press coffee service. Otherwise, the coffee selection is the same as the other locations.

The new Alterra will also focus more on desserts, and hopes to get a liquor license in the near future to complement the dessert menu. If granted a liquor license, Alterra at the Foundry would be the first Alterra café to serve alcohol.

The environment looks and feels industrial and "foundry-ish." Dempsey says Alterra owners leased the brand new building in mint condition, complete with spotless concrete floors and white walls, but designers proceeded to customize it into a rustic-feeling foundry complete with recycled scrap metal decor.

"Basically, we're in a new space that was custom made to look old," says Dempsey. "The results are really unique."

Alterra at the Foundry's hours are Monday-Thursday from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, call (414) 765-9873.