Café Refuge has secured a permanent home and is preparing to transform from a mobile caffeine cart to a full-fledged coffee shop. The new concept is in progress at 2336 Harbor Blvd. in Costa Mesa, according to records.
Plans were originally filed with the Orange County Health Department in August. In mid-September, they were declared not approved; revisions were then submitted in October and, again, were not approved. A second round of corrections was then subsequently given the green light, meaning construction is allowed to begin.
This is a major milestone for the company, a husband-and-wife venture that started out as a pop-up concept. Owners Noi and Tiffany started the mission-driven business as a nod to Noi’s heritage. A refugee from Lao, his father, who served as a pilot supporting the American CIA, was taken captive but escaped and relocated his family to rebuild in the U.S., the Café Refuge website states.
The company has shared recent updates with customers on its social media pages. This week, they shared that its order of 50,000 customized cups arrived; last month, they highlighted the delivery of the store’s roaster.
Its core menu revolves around specialty coffees and teas sourced from across Asia. Noi and Tiffany have traveled through multiple Asian countries to meet farmers and ensure ethical practices, as well as participated in roasting courses in Saigon and Chicago.
