Carmen’s Coffee Shop: Brewing a Dream in Downtown Long Beach

Who We Are:

Carmen’s Coffee Co. is more than just coffee, it’s a community hub built on passion and family. For 5 years, we’ve been serving Long Beach with our beloved mobile coffee truck, and now, we’re ready to put down roots with our first brick-and-mortar shop!

Why We Need You:

Imagine a warm, inviting space filled with the aroma of freshly roasted coffee. A place where friends gather and conversation flows as freely as our signature lavender cold brew. This is the dream we’re brewing, and with your help, we can make it a reality.

What You’ll Help Achieve:

Your contribution will transform a dream into a vibrant coffee shop, offering Long Beach a haven for quality coffee, delicious pastries, and friendly connections.

Ready to Join Us?

What We Need:

We need to raise $200,000 to build out this space to be ADA compliant, construction of the interior and  equipment to create the magic of coffee we already make on our coffee truck.

Why we need this money and why now?:

We were approached to take over an existing coffee shop named “Pop’s Java”. We were very excited to walk into an existing coffee shop and give it the love and attention it needed to flourish with the surrounding community. We signed the lease and paid our deposits. We took our proof of lease to the city to do our proper business license to then we were told that the space we had leased is not a coffee shop and is not zoned to be a coffee shop. We were encouraged to go to the planning department and see if what was built inside is ok to get a business license. We got a hard setback again and we were told that the interior should have had an ADA restroom and the buildout inside never had a permit to be built.

The sinking feeling in our heart was very heavy. We love the location and that is why we have not walked away from this opportunity. We invested more money into an interior design that would allow us to do a lot more with the space and be ADA compliant and legally permitted with the City of Long Beach.

The Impact:

Carmen’s Coffee Shop won’t just be about caffeine, it will be about community. We’ll become a gathering place for the Long Beach spirit, fostering connections and supporting local businesses. Every cup brewed is a step towards building something special for our city.

Challenges & How We’ll Overcome Them:

Opening a new shop isn’t easy, especially when faced with a non-ADA compliant space. But we are determined! We’ll work closely with contractors to create a welcoming environment that is accessible to all.

Other Ways You Can Help:

Spread the Love!

Even if you can’t contribute financially, you can still help! Share our campaign with your friends, family, and fellow coffee lovers. Let’s brew this dream together!