Déjà brew
East Austin coffee shop has designs for new location on struggling Hyde Park strip
One of East Austin’s best-loved coffee shops is expanding into to Hyde Park. Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors is brewing up a second location at 4301 Guadalupe St. in spring 2020.
Located next-door to The Parlor in the former Black Lagoon Gallery, Figure 8 co-owner Ryan Hall says the Guadalupe spot represents a homecoming of sorts. “I worked at the Parlor many, many years ago, and I couldn't say no to being neighbors with them,” says Hall.
Kathleen Carmichael, the other founder of the concept, also has a connection to the area. Hall says she grew up in the neighborhood and still has deep family ties.
Naturally, coffee will be at the center of the upcoming operation.The team will be taking advantage of the larger space to house Carmichael’s burgeoning roasting program. The Figure 8 beans will supply the original location, Kinda Tropical, and future wholesale accounts.
“A lot of our excitement for the cafe at 43rd and Guadalupe stems from the really vibrant roasting program we've learned to develop in the last couple of years,” says Hall.
The roastery will help drive retail at the store. Hall envisions the component as “a one-stop shop for coffee, filters, brewing devices, grinders, coffee literature,” and more.
The caffeine will be paired with a small menu served from an onsite kitchen, with dishes inspired by extensive travels throughout the United States, Japan, Mexico, and Europe.
“Think items like labneh and za’atar toast, Japanese egg salad, etc.,” teases Hall. “Things both old and new, homespun, and eclectic.”
Figure 8 will breathe some much-needed life into the Guadalupe Street strip, which has suffered a series of hospitality shutters in 2019, including long-running coffeehouse La Taza Fresca, the Korean Komfort brick-and-mortar, and a seemingly indefinite hiatus for popular wine bar Vino Vino.
