Avid Coffee Co. Might Open a Permanent Location in Garden Oaks

Fans of mobile roastery Avid Coffee Company will find the truck in a new spot at the 34th Street Ella Retail Center starting on Monday; it’s a test-run to determine whether the coffee purveyor will move into a permanent brick-and-mortar outpost on the property.

What’s known for sure is that the development is undergoing a huge overhaul courtesy of Revive Development, and the real estate group is looking to put a coffee shop, whether it ends up being Avid or another purveyor, into the repurposed Express Wheel & Tire store on the premises.

Avid Coffee co-owner Matthew McKenzie tells Eater he sat down with the development firm to talk about the collaboration last week, but there’s much to be determined before the deal can go through. Namely, whether Avid will get the same foot traffic in the new locale that it’s been enjoying in other spots in Garden Oaks. Hence a several-week experiment will begin with Avid’s truck parked on the premises. “I think because I’m local and they’d heard about my company, and vision, and heart, they were interested in me specifically,” McKenzie told Eater.

According to Cisnero Design Studio & Architect’s website which is responsible for the renovation:

“Construction has started on this Garden Oaks landmark and includes raising the existing roof structure to accommodate a new storefront and canopy structure....The existing tire shop will be renovated into a coffee shop and a new 5,000 SF building will be added to the site.... Current, locally-established businesses will be relocated in the updated renovated 16,000 SF structure.” Let the shuffle begin. Swamplot has more details on all the business switcheroos, and also reports that the new coffee shop will have a drive-through window.

Whether Avid’s experiment works out for the long haul, or another coffee company moves in, the forthcoming coffee shop will be joining Pop & Pan (the updated moniker for Houston Panini & Provisions), Sing (former Houston Press food critic Cuc Lam’s casual Singaporean restaurant), BB’s Cafe, and Aladdin Mediterranean Cuisine.

Coffee lovers can grab a cup joe from Avid Coffee Co.’s truck beginning on Monday, stay tuned for more details on whether or not the Garden Oaks location will become the truck’s new home.

• The Nextdoor Strip That Surfhouse and Houston Panini Might Scoot Into on W. 34th St. [Swamplot]