Folklores Coffee House, an independent neighborhood cafe, is under new ownership in San Antonio at 1943 N. New Braunfels Avenue in Government Hill.
Dr. Erica “Nikki” Martinez, a neighborhood advocate, purchased the business from Emilie and Joel “Tatu” Herrera after eight years of operation, according to CultureMap San Antonio. The decision to sell was bittersweet for the Herreras, who had worked through several challenges over the years. Martinez also sees the purchase as a chance to build a future for her autistic son while keeping the cafe’s focus on love, community, and opportunity.
Folklores originally opened in 2018 at 5007 S. Flores St. Before launching the coffee shop, Tatu spent two years hosting food pop-ups to save money. He drew inspiration from San Antonio’s punk and new wave music scene, incorporating 1980s posters into the cafe’s decor and playing music from the era.
When the pandemic forced the original shop to close in March 2020, the Herreras shifted their efforts toward feeding seniors, delivering tens of thousands of meals. They opened a second location at 1526 E. Grayson St. in July 2020, initially intending it to be an additional location. The original South Side flagship permanently closed in September of that year, and the business subsequently operated from several other locations, including a return to the South Side in 2022 and a Beacon Hill location.
The cafe has operated from its current Government Hill address since 2024. After power outages affected the Beacon Hill location in August, the Herreras decided to close it by the end of that month. Emilie also said balancing the business with her corporate job, family responsibilities, and health issues had become increasingly difficult over the previous couple of years.
