Refuge Coffee Co. opened its second retail location in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood of Atlanta the week of February 3, 2020.

Atlanta Coffee Shops was on the scene the first week of the opening to preview the space and to congratulate Kitti and team on this grand opening.

Following are some photos from the new Sweet Auburn location as well as the current menu at Refuge Coffee Co. in Sweet Auburn.

Editor’s Note: this is a preview post about the Sweet Auburn location of Refuge Coffee Co.; a longer feature post about Refuge Coffee Co. (as an organization/non-profit), including its history, values, and mission will be published later this year.

Exterior and Interior Views

The space which Refuge Coffee Co. occupies in Sweet Auburn was previously occupied by Condesa Coffee, but Refuge Coffee Co. has made it its own.

Refuge Coffee Co. occupies the space what was known as the Daily World Building (construction of this building, located at 145 Auburn Avenue, was completed over 100 years ago in 1912). The Daily World Building was a long-time home to the country’s longest running African-American daily newspaper, the Atlanta Daily World. You can learn more about this historic building and its turnaround after the 2008 tornado in Atlanta on Gene Kansas’s website (Gene Kansas and his partner spearheaded the effort to save the historic Daily World Building from demolition after the building set vacant for about four years after the damage from the tornado):

In 2013, Gene Kansas and partner Ben Dupuy purchased the building. Utilizing the Historic Tax Credit, they rehabilitated the Daily World Building, turning the upstairs into 1930s-era style apartments. Downstairs became an Arden’s Garden juice bar and a Condesa Coffee shop (Editor’s Note: now Refuge Coffee Co.). As a point of interest, in 1918, the Virgil Coffee Company occupied the same space Condesa (Editor’s Note: now Refuge Coffee Co.) does now. Upstairs, in 1944, District V, Atlanta’s first African-American Girl Scout Troop, took up residence, while Club Poinciana entertained on the lower level with music of the day, including performances and appearances by Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong.
The award-winning historic preservation effort was named #2 Preservation Win of the Year in 2014 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, with additional awards and recognition for Excellence in Preservation from The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, the Atlanta Preservation Center, and the Atlanta Urban Design Commission, all in 2015.

For fans of podcasts, you can listen to an episode about the historic Daily World Building on this episode of Sidewalk Radio.

Editor’s Note: if you are curious to learn more about Gene Kansas, the real estate and cultural developer, ACS highly recommends listening to the very first episode of the newly unveiled local podcast called Super Open (hosted by Tara Dennis of Archie Bolden) via the website, Apple Podcasts, or on Spotify.

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Exterior view of Refuge Coffee Co. in Sweet Auburn.

Exterior view of Refuge Coffee Co. in Sweet Auburn.

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Interior wide view of Refuge Coffee Co. in Sweet Auburn

Interior wide view of Refuge Coffee Co. in Sweet Auburn

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Interior details at Refuge Coffee Co. in Sweet Auburn.

Interior details at Refuge Coffee Co. in Sweet Auburn.

A black La Marzocco espresso machine is the primary occupant of the coffee bar at Refuge Coffee Co. The machine was generously donated to Refuge Coffee Co. by Perc Coffee Roasters, who are the roasting partners of Refuge Coffee Co. (note: Perc Coffee is coming to Atlanta with its first retail shop opening in the city in the spring of 2020).

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Tools of the trade at Refuge Coffee Co.

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The back wall of Refuge Coffee Co. in Sweet Auburn.

The back wall of Refuge Coffee Co. in Sweet Auburn.

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Refugees welcome here.

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Four framed photographs on the wall at Refuge Coffee Co. in Sweet Auburn.

Four framed photographs on the wall at Refuge Coffee Co. in Sweet Auburn.

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Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote on the wall at Refuge Coffee Co. “It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it.” Art design by _@chase.moore .

Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote on the wall at Refuge Coffee Co. “It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it.”

Art design by _@chase.moore.

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Details from the shelves at Refuge Coffee Co. in Sweet Auburn.

Details from the shelves at Refuge Coffee Co. in Sweet Auburn.

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Behind the bar.

The Menu

Following is the current menu at Refuge Coffee Co. in Sweet Auburn.

Coffee Other Drinks Pastries Coffee $2.25 / $2.75 / $3.25 Drip Coffee (S / M / L) $2.25 / $2.75 / $3.25 $2.50 / $3.00 / $3.50 Iced Coffee (S / M / L) $2.50 / $3.00 / $3.50 $2.25 / $2.75 / $3.00 Americano (S / M / L) $2.25 / $2.75 / $3.00 $3.50 / $5.50 Latte (M / L) $3.50 / $5.50 $5.00 / $5.50 Frappe (M / L) $5.00 / $5.50 $3.25 Cappuccino $3.25 $3.25 Cortado $3.25 $3.50 Shakerado $3.50 Other Drinks $2.50 / $3.00 / $3.50 Chai Latte (S / M / L) Hot or iced $2.50 / $3.00 / $3.50 $1.75 / $2.25 / $2.75 Iced Hibiscus Tea (S / M / L) $1.75 / $2.25 / $2.75 Loose Leaf Tea $2.00 / $2.50 / $3.00 Hot Chocolate (S / M / L) $2.00 / $2.50 / $3.00 $3.00 Ginger Lime Soda $3.00 $2.00 Montane Spring Soda $2.00 $2.00 Mexican Coke $2.00 Pastries Prices from $3 to $4.50 Various Prices from $3 to $4.50

The menu board at Refuge Coffee Co.:

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The menu at Refuge Coffee Co. in Sweet Auburn.

The menu at Refuge Coffee Co. in Sweet Auburn.

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A coffee shop corner. An invitation to visit.

A coffee shop corner. An invitation to visit.

Final Impressions

The Sweet Auburn location of Refuge Coffee Co. is a beautiful, inviting space. If you work or live in the downtown area of Atlanta, this coffee shop deserves your patronage.