Coffee without Mojo

One local coffee establishment that's been keeping Austin good 'n weird for the past 10 years is closing its doors come January 1st due to financial losses. Mojo's Daily Grind has felt the mighty force of that global coffee virus, Starbucks, as well as the strain from rising rent costs along the Drag and too much coffee competition.

Founded by Wade Beesley in 1994, Mojo's has been well-known for its laid-back attitude and openness to all kinds, from local artists to dog lovers to students and everyone on the outside or in between. Over the years, changes in management have left some regular customers feeling jilted, but new owners Bill and Louisa Brinsmade had just begun to turn things around and recreate the spirit of Mojo's inception. However, it just wasn't enough.

The Drag is home to many coffeeshops, and some have already succumbed to the mounting pressure. Peet's ~~and La Tazza Fresca~~** shut down to avoid bankruptcy, and other stores along Guadalupe are feeling the heat. Little City even relocated a few years ago to be in a better position to serve its target clientele.

It's possible that Mojo's will reopen somewhere on the East Side, but until then, drop by and show your support for local coffee spots. At least they've got the right idea: "The next month will be less like a closing and more like a party. This place will party so hard that it will asphyxiate on its own vomit. We're gonna go down like a rock star."

*image from The Daily Texan

**Correction: La Tazza Fresca IS STILL OPEN. This error has since been removed from the Daily Texan article.

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By Bre in News on December 2, 2005 10:29 AM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

Lou

I'm all for local buisness, but if a coffee shop sux it just sux. Every time I had coffee at Mojo's it was horrible. I refused to take more than one sip...So I will support local buisness, but I'm not going to pay for a bad product local or not.

Andrew

huh, so LaTF isn't closing. Funny, I walked past the other day--thinking it was closing--and didn't even notice that the place was open. Nobody coming in and out, no light shining inside, no bikes parked out front. (This was like 2:00 in the afternoon: they were almost certainly open.)

So...that's good. I hate to see a local business close. But LaTF still has a long way to go.

kayvaan

i think LaTF is in a pretty pedestrian unfriendly spot. it faces onto a busy, noisy street that is relatively inaccessible on foot except from due east.... furthermore, the surrounding area is not that pleasant - lots of traffic and gas stations. that being said, i like LaTF and it's cool that they have live tunes. i just never go there because the surroung area is unpleasant. but if you live close by...

progress rocks.

Jazz One

La Tazza Fresca is not closing.

I was talking to the owner yesterday about it. He said the person who wrote the article didn't even contact them. I guess the guy assumed they were closing. I am sure the person who wrote that has a future position at Fox News.

I am the first to agree the chairs there are uncomfortable. I think I heard those will be replaced soon. Until then the stools and chairs in the corner are comfortable enough.

I personally think the coffee is good. I think they have an interesting vibe there. I am there a few times a week. They are about two streets over from me. I am a poet and they support the scene. There are bands there from time to time, sometimes for the first time. All the people that work behind the counter are great.

And how many places can you get your oil changed and caffiene fix in the same building?

LaTF and Progress are my two favorite places in town. There are a few that mel mentioned that run a tie for close seconds though.

Link to the article about Mojo's closing that mentioned La Tazza Fresca closing. Notice the closing of LaTF is not mentioned anymore like it was in the print version.

kayvaan

it's sad to see how crappy the strip is in general. you'd think tens of thousands of undergrads could support better businesses -- aren't college towns supposed to have an ecclectic, funky vibe? but i guess most of the students here at UT (and everywhere else these days) grew up alongside strip malls and wal-marts and don't know better.

i was bummed when the barnes and noble closed. yeah, it's a chain -- but shouldn't a huge university should have at least one bookstore across the street? or maybe just a newsstand?

gah - this is depressing to think about.

kss

what?! mojos is closing?!

john

yeah, mojos hasn't been the same since wade sold it, it's sucked ass since then so although local business is great, i'm happy to see them go.

smelly.

that's a shame. mojo's was never the same after wade sold it. please support local coffeehouses!

little city, flightpath, halcyon...progress coffee is such a great place!!! check 'em out!

Andrew

I always hoped La Tazza Fresca would realize they had a great location and a real chance. But their buidling was just so unpleasantly decorated, with ugly ugly fixtures and uncomfortable chairs. (And the coffee was unmemorable.) And what about that bizarre world map on the floor? Weird. They never seemed to worry much about making a welcoming environment--pretty much the kiss of death for a coffee place.

The new Starbucks across the street just had to roll out their standard comfy chairs and music and Tazza didn't stand a chance. Too bad.