Fort Worth is about to get a lot more caffeinated. After the recent opening of Ampersand’s second location near TCU, two more coffee shops — Race Street Coffee and Summer Moon Coffee — are set to open this month.
Race Street Coffee is in soft-opening mode on its namesake street in the River East district, just east of downtown, at 3201 Race St. Co-owned and operated by Aaron Latchaw, the cozy space is a spinoff of Oak Cliff Coffee Roasters. Latchaw, a resident of the nearby historic Oakhurst neighborhood, left his longtime sales and account management job to partner in the venture when he heard about the opportunity.
Located in a former bail bonds office built somewhere around the late 1940s, he says, the shop offers pour-overs, espresso, cappuccino, lattes, and bottled cold brew. Teas and probiotic beverages similar to kombucha are on the way, as is cold brew nitro on tap. Latchaw plans to partner with local artists to dress up the walls.
“The building needed a lot of work. It was pretty beat up,” Latchaw ways. “There are not that many buildings of character over here, so we wanted to make sure we did something proper.”
Hours, to start, will be Tuesday through Saturday from 7 am to 3 pm. Seating is kept simple with four-top tables and a patio is in the works, but don’t expect WiFi — at least at first. Latchaw would like folks to converse and detach.
Over on South Main Street, the developmental renaissance continues with the opening of Summer Moon Coffee’s second Tarrant County location. The Austin-based shop opened a Keller location in 2018. Using a 19th-century hearth in Dripping Springs, coffee beans are wood-fire roasted using oak.
Owner Greg Richardson is optimistic for a late-month opening at 609 S. Main St. with a menu similar to the Keller location. Think espresso, cappuccino, cortados and an array of beverages made with Moon Milk — a blend of seven secret ingredients that combine for a sweet cream. Patrons should prepare to use lingo like “Half Moon,” “Summermoon,” and “Whispermoon” when ordering coffee.
“We have been observing the Near Southside and how it’s been developing the past few years,” says Richardson. “Just in the past 12 months there’s been a significant investment in the area. The city of Fort Worth has done a great job installing new sidewalks and street lanterns, just dressing up South Main Street. It’s made it attractive for investors to come in develop more real estate.”
Located in a new mixed-use building near Pennsylvania Avenue, the shop will encompass 2,000 square feet, and a nearby mezzanine will offer 700 more square feet of sipping space. Breakfast tacos will be provided by Taco Heads, and pastries and baked items will be offered by Grapevine’s Main Street Bakery and Southlake’s Pinch of Salt Pastries.
“We’re very excited about where the area is headed,” says Richardson. “It’s really going to be a great destination for people to visit.”
Summer Moon will be open seven days a week, starting at 6 am Monday through Friday and 7 am on the weekends, closing at 8 pm daily.
Summer Moon Coffee's second Tarrant location is in the buzzy South Main Street corridor.
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