When Gabe Hagen and Jesse Shank opened their first coffee shop in 2021, they thought they’d stick to a single location. The couple opened Brick Road Coffee on Rural Road just south of Route 60 in Tempe. Then gradually, they opened a second location in Mesa. They added their own coffee roastery. And now, they’re getting ready to open their third Valley coffee shop in the Melrose District.
Hagen describes the Tempe location as “ripping the Band-Aid off” as the duo dove into their new business venture. He describes moving into the Valley’s “gayborhood” as a “homecoming.”
Brick Road Coffee’s locations function both as coffee shops and inclusive spaces for the queer community. The cafes host events, support local LGBTQ+ organizations and source beans from companies and farms that align with that mission. In the East Valley, that can feel “quite isolating,” Hagen says.
“In Tempe and Mesa, we’re always the queerest coffee shop, we feel that. When things go south, you know, we’re kind of the sole target for a lot of it,” he says. “But in Melrose, it’s not quite the differentiator out there, which is a good thing.”
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Along with a selection of local gay bars, drag venues and other inclusive spaces, the new location will bring Brick Road closer to many of the organizations it regularly supports, such as Prisma Community Care and Spectrum. And even within the greater Melrose District, the coffee shop is moving into another community.
It will replace the former Window Coffee Bar outpost within The Royale. The mid-century modern shopping plaza was developed by local entrepreneurs Mark Howard and Rocco Menaguale and is home to a restaurant and bar, a hair salon, florist, architecture firm, primary care provider and photo studio.
“Working with Mark and Rocco at the Royale, they are so aligned with what we’ve been trying to do with Brick Road, which is, like, uplifting queer voices and creating spaces for people to feel seen. So to find that alignment is just really exciting,” Hagen says.
Brick Road Coffee is moving into The Royale, a collection of small businesses on Seventh Avenue.
Provided by Brick Road Coffee
What to expect at Brick Road Melrose
The new cafe is set to open in mid-October. It’s moving into a tiny, 600-square-foot space, so there isn’t room to change a whole lot, Hagen says. And since the space previously housed a coffee shop, it’s mostly built out. The Brick Road team is refreshing the paint, adding a new countertop and a cozy booth.
“We’re just trying to sneak as many air-conditioned seats in there as possible,” Hagen says.
The menu will stay consistent across all three locations, with a selection of specialty coffee drinks and a small food menu. Favorites include the Cinnamon Roll Latte made with vanilla, white mocha and cinnamon, a Cereal Milk Latte and the Flying Monkey, a mix of Irish cream and a double espresso.
At the new Melrose coffee shop, customers will be able to enjoy their drinks inside or out. Between the businesses at The Royale sits a turfed outdoor space with artwork and patio seating. When the weather’s nice, it will provide more space for customers to sit. Hagen also hopes to use the courtyard for events and collaborations with the neighboring businesses.
“We’re really excited to be able to activate that space with Mark and the rest of the tenants there at the Royale, and continue to do what we’ve done at both of our other locations, which is build community, bring people together, create a space that is really just open and inclusive, and find ways to do really fun events,” Hagen says.
Brick Road Coffee is planned to open in Melrose in mid-October.
Provided by Brick Road Coffee
Events are a big part of what Brick Road does in Tempe and Mesa. The cafes host craft nights and an annual “Trunk-or-Treat” art market in the fall. In the Melrose District, they hope to join in with other existing events, rather than always building them from the ground up.
“If it’s not something we’re creating, now it’s just that we’re gonna be bringing the caffeine,” Hagen says. “And some fun stickers.”
The Melrose District recently started hosting its own First Friday event and in September, Brick Road popped up with a table to introduce themselves to the neighborhood. The owners were shocked to see how many people came out to enjoy an evening filled with music and community connection in the district.
“The life and the livelihood that’s going on there, even in September, when it’s still hot. It was just really exciting to see,” Hagen says.
From the moment they made the decision to open a third location, everything has moved very quickly, Hagen says. They got the keys in September and hope to be open by mid-October. In the coming weeks, they’ll host a hiring fair in the courtyard and then a grand opening party. Phoenix Pride is scheduled to take place on Oct. 11, and Hagen says they plan to keep the party going for the rest of the month.
Going forward, Hagen hopes the new cafe will continue Brick Road’s mission of bringing people together in a welcoming community space with great coffee.
“It’s not always fun being an adult in today’s world. But we should still find those moments of joy. Whether it’s meeting up with a friend over a cup of coffee, just to connect, or coming out to one of our events, we just really encourage people, especially when they’re feeling down, to connect with the community,” Hagen says. “Every time I walk into The Royale, and we’re not even open yet, it already breathes that joy into my soul.”
Brick Road Coffee
4415 S. Rural Road, #10, Tempe
1337 S. Gilbert Road, #120, Mesa
Opening in mid-October: 635 W. Glenrosa Ave, #109
