What is your mission, vision and/or values? Our mission at its base has always been to provide high quality coffee from friendly baristas in a clean environment 24/7/365. From there, Bennu has really evolved to have several more core values that spring from what the owners bring, what the team brings, and what the community has asked for. As an owner, Steve came to Bennu with a long history in the Austin coffee scene both as a barista and as an owner. For him it was very important that coffee = community. For Stephanie, she brought a background in social work and a need for purpose in the business. This combination resulted in a coffee shop that strives to be more than just a business, but rather an integral part of the community it is in, a space that feels like home to the staff and customers alike and that gives back rather than just existing to make a profit. This means so many things: from a commitment to fair trade coffee and going local with almost all of our vendor partnerships, to keeping prices extremely low for our customers, to providing health insurance to our employees in spite of being small enough that it isn't a requirement for us, to giving back to our community through donations and even volunteering as a team throughout the years. A coffee shop is like a living thing though and sometimes it surprises you by what it becomes! While we never set out to make a space that was primarily a work/study space, that is quickly what our community kind of decided we were and so we embraced that part of our brand identity. This has guided us as we've grown. For instance, we instituted a policy early on that we would never have events of any kind.
That way our customers knew what they could expect at Bennu 24/7 whether that means a place to study or read a good book or somewhere relaxing to meet for business or pleasure. Finally, we give the managers of each of our three locations a lot of ownership in how they run their locations. We find that each location has a different customer base/a unique community and the team on the ground knows their community the best. We've been really fortunate to have wonderful staff over the years who know how to nurture just the right qualities in each specific location to make it the best for its specific customer base. While we started out with notions of what Bennu would be, we have held those loosely while still keeping our values as our foundation and we are really proud of what Bennu has evolved into under the influence of those values, each team member over the years who has poured into it, and our community who has both grown us and loved us.
The number one thing that stands out about us is likely that we were truly 24/7/365. Prior to COVID, we NEVER closed. Also, because we want to foster community, all our locations are pretty large with lots of seating.
How did you get to where you are today?
As for Bennu Coffee East, it is our first baby! We built that one ourselves with practically no money, a lot of favors, a lot of hard work, and a lot of love during the 2008 recession. It isn't the sexiest Bennu, but in some ways it has the most heart. We like to think it has an "old Austin" vibe. It has always had a varied customer base and our team there has always been full of creatives.
We are a true mom and pop shop. Steve was a co-owner in a different beloved Austin coffee shop when we met. He was working behind the bar as an owner/barista, and I (Stephanie) was working the graveyard shifts at a homeless shelter for youth. We met in the context of customer and barista and now we love hearing stories of other people who met and fell in love or had their first date at Bennu. When we got engaged, we wanted to start our lives together which is an element of the inspiration for our name. The Bennu bird is a mythical bird of re-birth similar to the phoenix. Bennu was the start of our lives together.
As the business grew, so did our family. We added two kids to our family and two more locations. Bennu also birthed Chameleon Cold-Brew, a bottled cold brewed coffee company that Steve co-owned with a Bennu customer. We are extremely proud of our cold brew
at Bennu and the fact that it inspired the
launch of a global brand. The last two years have been really trying as small business owners and things have yet to return to "normal" however, just like the Bennu bird, we aim to rise from the ashes!
What makes your shop unique?
People have always remarked positively on our literary themed Mocha menu, and everyone loves our signature sweet and creamy cold brewed drink, the Iced Bennu. Additionally, I think our customers appreciate that we really strive to *not* be pretentious and our drinks are very fairly priced and very customizable. We want you to be able to get exactly what you want at Bennu without feeling like you have to apologize for it, if that makes sense. Bennu East is unique in the old Austin and art scene vibe, I think. It's very eclectic.
What is your shop best for?
Study Space, Client Meetings, Day Dates, Self-care, quiet space for journaling etc., Patio Hangouts, Dog Approved, we don't serve alcohol, so date nights might be out, and we are often very busy, so group meet-ups can be a gamble as far as table space goes.
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