WINTER PARK, Fla. – Jackie Moore hoped that her Winter Park business, Austin’s Coffee, would be something she could pass down to her children, but the cafe faces an uncertain future as the city looks to repurpose the land.
“This was meant to be an investment in their future,” Moore said. “I just wanted to make sure I left something behind for them because my kids have actually suffered the most in helping be there for a small business.”
Moore and her former husband purchased the business along Fairbanks Avenue nearly 20 years ago. She said the former owner had a good concept, but could never quite balance the cafe’s ledger.
Since taking over, Moore said Austin’s has become a hub for the community; however, she added that some people have made assumptions about her clientele.
“They think that we’re just, you know, a hippie-dippy coffee shop that has a bunch of people just hanging out and playing music and that’s it,” she said. “The majority of our clientele is the community that lives in and around Austin’s. We get all ages, we get all forms of life, different political backgrounds, different religious backgrounds."
Moore takes pride in the fact that some of the artists who spent time in Austin’s have gone on to bigger and better things.
“We’ve had a few people that have gone on to America’s Got Talent,” she said. “One of the comedians went on to be a writer for Mad TV. We’ve had somebody go on to be a writer for SNL."
Despite this, Austin’s currently faces an uncertain future. The city of Winter Park is looking to redevelop the area — a $4 million city project aimed at alleviating traffic congestion on Fairbanks Avenue. The plan involves expanding the road, potentially displacing several small businesses, including Austin’s Coffee.
Moore said that if her business were to be shuttered and torn down, there is irreplaceable art that would be completely lost.
"It sounds weird to hear that there’s art in the bathrooms, but there is. The majority of the bricks in the men’s bathroom were painted by an artist named Morgan Steele and he has passed away. You know, I can’t just move that."
According to Moore, unless something changes in the near future, she will be forced to close Austin’s once her lease is up later this year.
On the latest episode of Florida Foodie, Moore talks more about building her business and the community she has helped foster there. She also talks more about her struggles to stay open her hopes for a resolution with Winter Park leaders.
Check out the Florida Foodie podcast. You can find every episode in the media player below: