Some islanders, including myself, are wondering what happened to
Lasso a Latte Coffee Shop, 500 Seawall Blvd.
I drove by this morning. The sign is gone and the shop is empty. I’m hoping it’s just a move or a renovation and nothing permanent. But it doesn't look good.
The owners — Benjamin and Kristie Tjepkema — were hard workers and nice. I first spoke with them in 2004, when they built that little white building with a circular driveway at 5727 Broadway, west of
Taco Bell.
The couple had
a good business story. They had taken $100,000 from the sale of a house in Washington State to build a drive-through coffee shop on the island.
The drive-through coffee shop was a quick success, roping in commuters headed to
University of Texas Medical Branch or
American National Insurance Co.
In 2008, just before Hurricane Ike struck, the couple moved Lasso a Latte to 500 Seawall.
The sign is gone and the space formerly occupied by Lasso a Latte is empty. I liked the Seawall shop, but
Mod Coffeehouse is walking distance from my home, so, that’s where I usually go.
Before Lasso a Latte, Saxby’s Coffee tried to make a go of the Seawall site.
The site, so close to the medical branch, seems like a good place to sell coffee. I saw groups of students there studying each time I went.
I haven't been able to track down the Tjepkemas. What do you think happened to Lasso a Latte? Anyone know anything?
