JahVa Espresso Lounge+ is bringing a comfy coffeehouse with a health-minded menu and an emphasis on roots reggae music to South Pasadena. Spouse-and-husband homeowners Angela Vallee and Edwin Grabert have scheduled a pre-launch occasion for April 19. The grand opening will comply with on April 20.
In line with Vallee, she wrote up a marketing strategy for JahVa 12 years in the past whereas she was getting her advertising and marketing diploma. The idea takes inspiration from her longtime love of roots reggae artists like Dennis Brown and Peter Tosh, whom she remembers her dad taking part in within the automobile as a child. However it wasn’t till she was pregnant together with her and Grabert’s son, Ocean, that she actually started to mull over what Grabert had requested about her marketing strategy after they first began relationship: Why don’t you do that?
Vallee, who used native reggae exhibits and reggae festivals everywhere in the nation as an escape from work, mentioned she realized she didn’t need to be “chained to a desk,” or for his or her now 8-month-old to solely see her on weekends. She give up her comfortable company job in advertising and marketing final 12 months to go all in with entrepreneur Grabert on JahVa, a spot the place company will have the ability to rating each caffeine and a chunk to eat.
The espresso lounge will occupy an 800-square-foot house at 6800 Gulfport Blvd. S within the South Pasadena Purchasing Middle anchored by Walmart. The couple have been eyeing the plaza for some time.
“Everyone goes there. The foot site visitors is unbelievable,” Vallee mentioned, including that the placement will enable them to cater to the South Pasadena crowd in addition to folks on their strategy to or from Gulfport and the beach.
JahVa plans to make use of Jamaican Blue Mountain espresso for its sizzling and iced specialty lattes, which can possible supply an island twist by coconut syrup and different components. CBD espresso and caffeine-free superfood lattes in flavors akin to beet root and turmeric may even make up the lineup. Vallee mentioned superfood lattes are all the craze in California, the place she lived for a time and would usually go to to attend festivals.
A number of native joints will provide the espresso lounge with meals — assume bagels and croissants from Bella’s Bakes Muffins and Bagels or gluten-free Craft Kafe bagels. Vallee and Grabert are engaged on a lineup of smoothie bowls to accompany the completely different the kinds of reggae set to play all through the day.
Dub classics might begin within the early morning, then the tunes might transition to ska or rock regular round lunchtime.
Along with the soundtrack, JahVa will function a snug setting all inexperienced, yellow and purple with leather-based couches, massive chairs and excessive ceilings. Vallee mentioned they’ve tapped St. Petersburg muralists the Vitale Bros. to tug off inside paintings, together with optimistic quotes from roots reggae music greats. Count on some seats on the patio out entrance, too.
“I simply wished a spot I’d get pleasure from going to that will have reggae on a regular basis, espresso and wholesome meals,” Vallee mentioned.
(727) 314-0923. jahvacoffeelounge.com.