Offering couches for lounging, a table for checkers and live music three nights a week, The Blue Giraffe’s owner Rhonda Schwob said she wants to make the cafe a space to hang out and a place to grab coffee and a sandwich.
Schwob opened The Blue Giraffe in Old Town Spring in February 2015 after being inspired by time she spent living in Austin.
“I lived in Austin for a long time, and I would go on Sixth Street and hang out and listen to some bands,” Schwob said. “I knew there was a need for that here.”
Thursday and Friday are open-mic nights, which Schwob said gives local artists a chance to get comfortable in front of a crowd and try out new material. On Saturday, the cafe usually hosts concerts featuring local bands and musicians.
The musical acts set up inside the shop or in the courtyard behind the building, Schwob said. A small stage in the courtyard spotlights live music, and strands of lights hang overhead. The Blue Giraffe also hosts comedy nights occasionally, she said.
The Blue Giraffe serves soup, sandwiches, wraps, hamburgers and dessert. Schwob said two of the most popular menu choices are crab and crawfish bisque, and the chicken salad sandwich.
“We try to mix up the menu to try new and different things,” Schwob said. “Sometimes we will have all-you-can-eat catfish, and then the next time we might have crawfish or burgers on the patio.”
The restaurant also has at least 40 flavors of coffee beans and espresso drinks as well as holiday flavors in the fall and winter. It serves craft soda from a fountain as well as beer and wine.
Schwob said she has thought about opening a second cafe in Tomball or Kingwood, but for now she wants to continue growing her business on the days when live music is not scheduled. She said the most enjoyable aspect of the job is engaging with and serving her customers.
“People come in and enjoy our food, and we have good conversations,” Schwob said. “You know, food is something that makes people happy.”
The Blue Giraffe
417 Gentry St., Ste. C, Spring 281-288-4233 www.thebluegiraffeetc.com Hours: Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Tue.-Wed. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Thu.-Sat. 9 a.m.-midnight, closed Mon.
