With so much development occurring along Roosevelt Row, it’s nice to be reminded of the value of long-standing buildings that have somehow survived decades of neglect and the demolition of their neighbors. One of those is the Gold Spot, officially known when it opened in 1925 as the Gold Spot Marketing Center. This building, originally used as a grocery and shopping center in what was then considered a far-flung suburb, now functions as space for neighborhood businesses, including something that nearly every neighborhood needs: a coffee house.
Lola Coffee occupies one of the Gold Spot’s retail sites facing Roosevelt, despite an address on nearby Third Avenue. The location is three blocks west of Roosevelt/Central station on the B Line. There is a bike rack near the back entrance next to the shop’s attractive patio, which is shaded not only by a canopy suspended over the tables, but also the shadow of the Roosevelt Square apartments next door. Inside, Lola shows respect for its building’s vintage with weathered wood tables, comfortable couches, and natural light from abundant windows.
Lola originated several miles to the north in the Uptown neighborhood of Phoenix. More than a decade ago, Lola Tapas served small plates of Spanish food at community tables. Soon after, Lola Coffee appeared at Central and Highland. Both are no longer around, but the current incarnation of Lola at the north end of Downtown Phoenix blends the best of both worlds. There’s coffee, roasted on site, as well as a rotating selection of fresh pastry, but there are also European and Southwestern influences in some of the savory selections on the breakfast menu.
While some coffee shops feature a limited assortment of pastry with different degrees of freshness, Lola opens each morning at 7 AM, and the display case at the front counter quickly fills with a wide variety of items baked earlier that morning. Many are breakfast classics like croissants, either plain or with chocolate. Cinnamon rolls, sticky buns, pumpkin bread, and sticky buns are additional choices. Muffins include a simple blueberry or a more complex almond with mixed berries. There’s also a daily quiche for those who like breakfast casseroles.
Made-to-order items include bowls of oatmeal, breakfast sandwiches, and breakfast burritos. With the last item, a daily special is the most economical. Custom burritos with a choice of cheese, meat, eggs, and vegetables are available for a bit more. To drink, Lola’s house-roasted drip coffee is available, as are any number of espresso drinks and a house specialty, the Matador, which is essentially a cinnamon mocha.Tea and fresh-squeezed orange juice area also available, and the latter can be combined with espresso in an acidic “sunrise” beverage.
Lola wasn’t the first coffee house to arrive on Roosevelt Row, but it came along before many shops in the current wave of development. With each coffee place having its own niche, Lola’s expertise seems to be in its first-rate bakery and its relaxing atmosphere. Other shops may be better for quick to-go orders or special dietary needs, but for unabashed exaltation of coffee and pastry in a neighborhood environment, coupled with a signature savory twists, Lola seems to have defined its own identity as distinctive as the historic Gold Spot building it occupies.
1001 N. 3rd Ave., Phoenix AZ 85003
https://lolacoffeebarphx.com
PHX Rail Food 