Santa Cruz, Calif.-based Verve Coffee Roasters recently opened its first Southern California café in downtown Los Angeles’ Fashion District. The brand partnered with Los Angeles-based cold-pressed juice company Juice Served Here on the 1,600-square-foot café, which is the first of four Verve units slated to open in the Los Angeles market over the next year. The company also operates three units in Santa Cruz, while Juice Served Here has three additional Los Angeles locations.
In the new unit, Juice Served Here serves its core menu of 23 cold-pressed juices, seasonal specials, smoothies and shots. In addition, the company has collaborated with Verve’s product development team to offer unique coffee items such as Tres Leches Lattes, Chocolate Fix Mochas and allergen-free Kanji Milk.
“Los Angeles has always been at the forefront of our minds when we thought about expansion beyond Santa Cruz because of its diverse and neighborhood-centric culture,” says Colby Barr, co-founder, Verve Coffee Roasters. “Downtown LA is the perfect location for us to open the first cafe as the geographical and historic heart of the city. It’s an exciting time for the company as we continue expanding to West Hollywood and Highland Park in 2015.”
“Downtown is seeing a huge migration of taste-makers, with coffee companies and serial restaurateurs opening roasteries, delis and incredibly designed eateries, so we knew it was time to embark on this part of the city,” says Alex Matthews, co-founder and CEO, Juice Served Here. “Partnering with Verve Coffee Roasters on this space was no question. Our brands’ DNA shares characteristics that complement one another seamlessly, and we share the same vision for product (it comes first), service and design aesthetic.”
Designed by Studio MAI, the open, loft-like space features high ceilings, natural lighting, abundant greenery and original white marble walls dating back to the early 1900s.