Erin Kim, co-owner of Caffe Promenade, grew up in South Korea before moving to the Allen area.[/caption]Erin Kim, co-owner of Caffe Promenade in Allen off Bethany Drive, never gets tired of seeing customers walk into the coffee shop for the first time.
While the exterior of Caffe Promenade looks fairly standard, the inside is, as Kim puts it, one of a kind. The walls feature paintings that represent the four seasons, with oil and acrylic paints, cement and three-dimensional art throughout the space. A lit-up tree stands in the corner under a realistic representation of a waterfall.
“When people walk in for the first time, they always go, ‘Wait, what is going on here? What is happening?’” Kim said. “The inside of our coffee shop is never what customers expect it to be.”
Kim said the shop’s art and decor help create a comfortable and unique atmosphere that makes the drinks and food even more enjoyable.
Doughnuts, which are made in-house, are one of the most popular menu items. A baker starts on the doughnuts at 1 o’clock each morning to have them fresh and ready for the day.
The coffee drinks are also a mainstay, Kim said. Caffe Promenade uses coffee beans from Eiland Coffee Roasters, a high-end Richardson-based coffee roaster.
In addition to regular and flavored lattes, Caffe Promenade offers a cold-brew coffee and an assortment of flavored bubble teas with tapioca balls.
“No matter what kind of mood you are in or what you like to drink, we have you covered,” Kim said.
Caffe Promenade specializes in seasonal items like October’s pumpkin-flavored beverages. The menu is transitioning toward winter items, when the popular eggnog latte and other cold-weather items are added.[/caption]Caffe Promenade specializes in seasonal items. For example, the shop featured pumpkin-spiced lattes, pumpkin cake doughnuts and pumpkin muffins in October.
“We have fun coming up with drinks and food that reflect the time of the year,” Kim said. “It keeps things fresh for both us and the customers.”
Kim said about 80 percent of Caffe Promenade’s customers are regulars.
Caffe Promenade offers a variety of cold drinks, including smoothies and bubble teas.[/caption]On this particular Friday afternoon, several businessmen are working on laptops on the large conference table, a mom is talking with a friend about weekend plans while her baby sleeps in her stroller and a college-age adult is reading a novel.
Kim said she loves how she has developed relationships with customers over her eight years at the cafe.
She fondly recalls when students stopped by on their way to prom to get some coffee and relax before the big dance, or when a customer’s baby grew into an elementary student and got a treat before their first day of school.
In addition to a variety of hot and cold drinks, the coffee shop makes fresh sandwiches to go.[/caption]Kim grew up in South Korea, and moved to the United States to provide more opportunities for her children. She and co-owner Daniel Kim were drawn to the Allen area because of the schools and safe environment.
“Growing up, I never would have imagined I’d help run a coffee shop in Texas,” Kim said. “It’s not always easy running a small business, but I’m really glad things have worked out this way.”
