A coffee shop is more than just a place to grab a cup of joe; it’s a place to gather, connect, and build community. So, what better place to celebrate Pride Month than at Brick Road Coffee?
Brick Road Coffee is a locally-owned coffee shop in Tempe, Arizona, and they are LGBTQA-community friendly. When I first happened to them upon chance, their name reminded me of the Wizard of Oz movie that I watched often as a child while clicking my own shoes in hopes of getting teleported to a magical world with a bright yellow brick road over the rainbow.
As I walked inside, the cool air enveloping me, I sure felt like I was standing on that brick road. The coffee shop exuded a vibrant ambience, with colorful wall paintings as well as its rainbow logo.
While waiting in line, I saw so many delightful coffee and non-coffee options to pick from the handwritten menu. In front of me was a glass display of pastries as well as a variety of snacks and drinks. They also had an array of pride-themed merchandise like rainbow stickers, shirts, and trinkets.
When it was my turn, the cashier made me feel right at home, even asking if I needed extra sugar in my coffee. The welcoming vibe extended to every corner of the shop, reflecting their motto: “There’s no place like foam; no matter what kind of ‘human bean’ you are, we love you, and our home at the end of the rainbow is yours as well.”
In my two visits here, I decided to try their fruit croissant, which was a delicious experience. The first time I tried their blueberry-filled croissant and the second time the raspberry-filled one. The piping hot croissant tasted as amazing as it looked with its flaky crispy sugar-powdered crust and the warm fruit jam. They even provided a cardboard to-go box to keep it warm, making it easy to enjoy on the go. And then, just for kicks, in my second visit, I tried their Wicked Nitro Cold Brew (a bitter cold concoction of extra strong coffee) as I had some homework due that day, and I needed to wake my brain up.
Upon arriving home, I visited their website to learn more about their story, which was very inspirational. Owners Gabe and Jesse, who proudly call each other “husband,” were raised in the rural Midwest. They met in Southern California fourteen years ago and their careers in finance brought them to Tempe. It wasn’t until during the pandemic that they both left the corporate world to create this beautiful coffee-shop.
And that is how they came up with Brick Road as the name of their coffee shop, wanting to inspire us “travel our own paths in life, laying one brick at a time and taking each turn as it comes” just like they did (source).
Their story shows how Brick Road Coffee is a beacon of hope and inclusivity, a space where everyone feels welcome and supported, no matter where they are on their own journey. As I left Brick Road Coffee that day, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the warmth and hospitality and yummy foods I had experienced. So here’s to Brick Road Coffee and to all the “human beans” out there – Happy Pride Month!