The coffee shop is located in what was once a 90-year-old residential house in Old Katy. (Roo Moody/Community Impact)
From the hand-painted tree in the corner to the train and the astronaut drawn on another one of the walls, Active Coffee is covered in symbolism.
“Everything here has a special meaning,” Owner Christian Reyes said.
He said he and his wife, Sofi, envisioned a space where families and friends could gather over a quality cup of coffee or wine, gelato, pastries and charcuterie. They also dreamed of creating a space where everyone belongs.
Reyes said his 14-year-old son, Nico, has special needs and the two have always bonded over their active lifestyle. After constantly being inspired by Nico’s unique talents, Reyes said he plans to create a program where other children with disabilities can also work at the coffee shop.
A closer look
Located inside a 90-year-old residential home in Old Katy, Active Coffee Shop features comfy couches, tables and a large patio.
“The idea with this is that you could have quality time,” Reyes said. “That's what I want here: quality time by yourself, with your family members and friends.”
To solidify the spot as a community hub, Reyes regularly hosts community events, including yoga classes every Tuesday and Saturday, and plans to start offering live music soon.
Active Coffee Shop has a large outdoor patio for children to play and for hosting community events. (Roo Moody/Community Impact)
The outlook
While he admits being an entrepreneur can be stressful, Reyes said it's a different kind of stress than he is used to.
“It's a stress that you can feel with love, a stress that you can feel with emotions, because this is your project, you believe in this ... your love is in this project,” he said.
As for the future, Reyes has big plans in store. He said he’s working on turning the empty house next door into a pizzeria as well as adding a playground between the two concepts.
