Here's the Buzz

Popular Alamo City coffee chain brews new location in hot Austin district

Local Coffee will open at the Seaholm development in November.

A massively popular San Antonio coffee shop is about to make its Austin debut. Local Coffee, the successful chain from Alamo City, is opening its first Austin location downtown this fall.

"We are super pumped and grateful to be part of the Austin coffee scene," founder and owner Robby Grubbs tells CultureMap in a statement.

The team is targeting a November opening for its seventh outpost, which will be nestled in the Seaholm development across from True Food Kitchen.

"I think folks will feel creatively inspired by our finishes and flow, but still feel like it's warm and approachable," Grubbs says. "Our loyal 'Locals' will know they are in a Local Coffee, but as they already know, we don't make any two the same."

"That's part of what Local means to us — to get inspiration from each specific community, and then do our best to elevate it with some unexpected finishes, graphics, offerings, etc."

The shop will feature a Modbar espresso machine and coffee from sister company Merit Roasting Co. — also based out of San Antonio — but patrons can expect guest offerings from other U.S. roasters. The drink menu ranges from high-quality coffee and espresso creations to fresh teas.

Local Coffee is also bringing in pastries from the beloved San Antonio-based Bakery Lorraine and Maybelle's Donuts. Additional food options will include toasts; Mother Culture Yogurt; and breakfast tacos from a yet-to-be-named partner — the team is still "in the process of doing some taco recon," Grubbs says.

Three San Antonio employees are relocating to Austin to help open the store. The hiring process will begin in late August or early September.

downtown openings coffee

Back to the Plow

Homey Austin jam and bake shop closing and returning to farmers market

Confituras/Instagram

Confituras Little Kitchen is closing its brick-and-mortar store, but feeling optimistic about the future.

A famers market find is returning to its natural environment after six years in a brick-and-mortar location. Confituras Little Kitchen, which specializes in locally sourced preserves, is closing its jam and biscuit shop after service on Sunday, December 22. However, it will continue selling goods at the Barton Creek Farmers Market and via retailers.

Confituras announced the change in a newsletter to its customers in December. The letter called the news "bittersweet."

"Although the brick and mortar will no longer be, the good news is that this will be a fresh new start for us – we are bursting with energy and creativity at the thought of being back out in the community where it all started for confituras," it said.

The kitchen is closing because the lease is up, and the team has decided to "give up the chase." The newsletter emphasized the ups-and-downs of business over the past several years — ones that were chaotic for just about any business, let alone a small, fairly niche food operation.

"So much has happened since we decided to open a brick + mortar – a wonderful kickstarter fundraiser, THE PANDEMIC, the AFTER-EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC, and an ever growing city," the letter says. "We tried so very hard but never really got our footing. We know we are not alone, many small business are in the same boat. We renewed our lease during the pandemic because we were hopeful we could make it work - the changing times had other ideas."

Finally, it shared how customers could keep enjoying Confituras creations:

The Barton Creek Farmers Market is open at 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy. every Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm.
A list on confituras.net compiles retailers including Royal Blue Grocery, Farmhouse Delivery, and Antonelli's Cheese Shop.
Jam share and Table22 subscription customers will have more instructions coming soon about picking up their goods in January at the same space, 2129 Goodrich Ave.
Customers may also reach out to inquire about continuing to order meals directly.

The kitchen also hosted frequent events and workshops, but the letter did not address this aspect of the business.

A shorter message shared on Instagram has inspired 63 comments so far, five days later. Customers eulogized the shop for its community feel and providing a sense of regularity during the height of the pandemic thanks to weekend pick-ups.