 San Antonio's
Independent
Coffee Houses
Serving Up More Than
Just the Average Joe
By Sharon García
Photography Louis Doucette
Let’s face it – it’s hard enough to be a small business owner in a fickle market where customer loyalty and preferences can change as quickly as the San Antonio winter weather.
In today’s booming coffee market, dominated by Seattle-based conglomerates with efficient production lines, a few brave San Antonio entrepreneurs have dared to defy the odds by relying on the unique appeal of their inviting cafes that offer so much more than a cup of coffee. Here a few of the more successful locally-owned java joints in San Antonio share what they’re doing to keep at the top of their game.
Candlelight Coffee House, 3011 N Saint Mary’s St.
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 4 pm - Midnight
Phone: (210) 738-0099
To the north of downtown, the “St. Mary’s Strip,” once a hotbed of live music, clubs and raucous nightlife, has mellowed over the years into a more subdued and eclectic mix of bars, restaurants and neighborhood hangouts. Nestled in the middle of this urban village sits the Candlelight Coffee House housed in a renovated structure that once was a private residence. With a welcoming facade, lush enclosed patio and inviting interior, the Candlelight has been a fixture of the urban scene since the early 90s.
Current owners, Ken Sheppard and Juan Garcia took over the business lock stock and barrel in January 2005 when the previous proprietor opted for a new career. “They were just going to close,” said Sheppard, and as long time customers “we couldn’t let that happen. This place had become a comfort zone and retreat for locals over the years and we were determined to keep it alive.” The owners have worked hard to keep the integrity of the original Candlelight while adding a few new touches of their own. On any given night, the crowd is a relaxing and refreshing mix of urban professionals and academics. Mellow and cozy are words that would best describe the shabby chic interior with warm lighting, overstuffed couches and chairs, and individual nooks for reading or conversation. With a full kitchen that is open until 11:30 pm most nights, the Candlelight is also one of the few late-night dinner options in the area serving up a diverse selection of sandwiches, entrees and appetizers. In addition to their signature coffees and fabulous homemade dessert cakes, they offer a complete wine selection and several imported beers. Live music can be heard out back the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month on the large enclosed patio area. Patrons also have access to free wireless internet.
Timos Coffee House, 2021 San Pedro Ave at Mistletoe
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 am – 10 pm; Saturday, 10 am – 4:00 pm
Phone: (210) 733-8049
When Tim Guillen and partner Peter Calcagno decided to open Timo’s Coffee House in a vacant storefront on San Pedro north of downtown, their friends were supportive but a bit skeptical about the location. “There was nothing like it in the neighborhood,” remembers Guillen, “and it seemed like a great opportunity to redevelop this section of town.” A year and a half later, Timo’s is going strong with a busy daily lunch crowd and the patronage of students, teachers and residents from the SAC/Trinity area. The non-descript look of the exterior belies a rather spacious and quaint interior, complete with boldly patterned mission tile often found in Monte Vista-area homes. The coffee house is well-known for its baked goods in generous portions that make for a great breakfast or dessert to go. Their sandwich board and fresh salads also earn rave reviews. Guillen and Calcagno are both seasoned veterans of the restaurant industry and seemed to know just what their customers were looking for – prompt service with a personal touch and one of the tastiest lunch menus in town.
 Ruta Maya Riverwalk
107 East Martin Street at Soledad
(210) 223-6292
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 7:30am - 11pm; Friday & Saturday, 8:30am - 2am; Sunday, 8:30am - 10pm
Web: www.rutamayariverwalk.com
The philosophy behind Ruta Maya Coffee House is simple yet profound: serve superior 100 percent organic coffee produced in Latin America/Mexico that offers a fair profit to the people who produce it. Ruta Maya brand coffee is all purchased directly from growers’ co-ops in the Chiapas, Mexico area. Add to that an open, modern space, an ample wine and beer selection (30 specialty beers), and a simple yet hearty menu of sandwiches, salads and pastries and you’ve got a hip downtown hangout popular with locals and tourists alike. After the success of the original Austin location, which opened nearly 17 years ago, friends Angel Mena and Tim Sheehan dreamed of one day opening a San Antonio location.
It wasn’t until Mena met fiancé Catarina Velasquez that the dream became a reality. “She developed the plan and set the process in place,” says Mena, “it was always her dream to operate an urban coffee house for locals that would be centrally located and accessible to all parts of San Antonio.” Ruta Maya Riverwalk opened its doors in February 2006 and boasts an active calendar of events: live music every weekend (Friday/Sat); open mic night every Thursday; and Monday night movies with weekly viewing of classic films, documentaries and independent films. The downtown coffee house also has on-site parking and free wireless internet access.
Sharon García is a public relations professional with Dublin & Associates in San Antonio and free-lance writer. |
