Amiallana Justus
On Monday, Jan. 26, at 7 a.m., creative minds came together to celebrate the soft reopening of Austin’s Coffee, now located at 2240 W. Fairbanks Ave. With yellow tape surrounding the new Austin Coffee’s building, workers cut the tape at exactly seven and had customers cheering on their new creative home.
At Austin’s, the community is able to express themselves freely through the use of music and entertainment at this coffee shop.
Originally located at 929. W. Fairbanks Ave, the City of Winter Park announced last year to purchase the land. The relocation under different leadership was a new feeling for customers and workers after being at the previous location for over twenty years. In response, community members made an effort to keep the artistic coffee shop alive through donations and raffles.
An inclusive menu of food and drink at Austin’s Coffee offers items such as Hot Beverages, Chai Latte, Organic Tea, Orchard Tea Pot, Frozen Beverages, and more variety drinks, makes this coffee place well rounded. Austin’s Coffee also has feastable items like, Light Bites, Greens & Things, Sides and Gourmet Sandwiches for customers to enjoy.
Creative Minds Coming Together
Austin’s Coffee isn’t just an ordinary coffee shop, but it allows for customers and staff to release their creative abilities in front of a comforting audience.
“I was a patron before the 2.0 reopening and I am really happy to be on the team now,” said Aloe Bellochi, fellow barista. “It feels really special to keep Austin’s Coffee alive and bring it back to the community because that’s really all it’s about.”
Bellochi said having the opportunity to be themselves in a room full of creatives makes them want to showcase their own talent to the world.
With the closing of the original Austin Coffee, there was never a definitive answer as to why it closed and left a lot of unanswered questions for the community after playing a pivotal role in the Orlando community’s lives for 25 years.
“There was a lot of speculation behind the closing and nobody that had answers could give answers,” Bellochi said. “A lot of politics went into it but all in all the city ended up buying the building from the owner and a lot of people from Austin rallied together and went to City Hall meetings to try and convince them to keep it a historical building, but they still ended up tearing it down.”
According to Bellochi, not every coffee shop has a place for the community to express themselves without judgement, but Austin Coffee shows that anyone is welcomed to be themselves with people who are different too.
Justin Mason, customer at the soft opening said the closing of the original Austin’s was a shock to himself and fellow students and customers who were regulars.
“I’m so excited and over the moon to be here at the opening for Austin’s Coffee and have been counting my days down for this exact moment,” Mason said.
Mason also shared how they found their true love at the original Austin’s Coffee making the location extra special.
“I think Austin’s is very much about saving certain spaces and keeping third spaces around and this is what this means to me,” Mason said. “It is like my home away from home and I hope that other customers feel that way too.”
Austin Coffee will continue to keep creativity alive as long as customers continue to show up, get out of their shells, and be passionate about their creative side.
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