Coffee is brewing in East Dallas. The coffee is on, you could say. Check out five new coffee shops in Lakewood open now or in the next few months.
JuJu’s Coffee
Stripped-down coffee shop JuJu’s moved in near Skillman and Live Oak streets. The shop is small, but co-owners Julia “JuJu” Rocha and Nick Rocha surely appreciate the permanent space that’s bigger than the 1962 Airstream where their coffee dreams began. A specialty drink at JuJu’s is the Otis Latte, named after the Airstream. It’s a vanilla oat milk latte with brown sugar. Next time, I’m going for the Coffee Cola, a Mexican Coke with a shot of espresso.
JuJu’s Coffee is at 6038 La Vista Drive, Dallas. It opened in May 2023.
Starbucks Coffee
The Lakewood Starbucks closed in mid-July 2023 and moved to a new spot in the same area, next-door to Sweetgreen salad shop. The $400,000 renovation included interior finish-out, new lighting, air conditioning units and plumbing in the 2,800-square-foot space, according to documents filed with the state. After a delay, it opened in early October 2023.
Starbucks Coffee is at 6400 Gaston Ave., Dallas. It opened Oct. 2, 2023.
Merit Coffee
San Antonio coffee shop Merit has made a steady entry into Dallas, first in Deep Ellum, then in Highland Park. Next came Preston-Forest and Walnut Hill and 75, near Trader Joe’s. By fall 2023, Merit Coffee opened at Mockingbird Lane and Abrams Road in Lakewood. It’s a few doors down from TCBY and shares a parking lot with Hudson House and Taco Joint. Merit is known for its great espresso, a stylish and simple interior, and nibbles like kolaches, “pop tarts” and muffins.
Merit Coffee is at 4124 Abrams Road, Dallas. It opened Oct. 20, 2023.
White Rock Coffee
Longtime East Dallas indie coffee shop White Rock, which has been expanding rapidly across neighborhoods in Dallas, is moving into the heart of Lakewood. In fall 2023, White Rock Coffee is expected to open where Starbucks was, on La Vista. So where’s Starbucks going? Read on.
White Rock Coffee will be at 6312 La Vista Drive, Dallas. It’s expected to open in fall 2023.
Black Sheep Coffee
London-based Black Sheep Coffee is making the leap across the pond in late 2023. Black Sheep’s first shop in the United States is expected to be on Mockingbird Lane, near Abrams Road. (Why here? We asked.) Construction was pushed back and will start in September 2023, says co-founder Gabriel Shohet; they originally hoped to open in June 2023.
The company has an interesting origin story, where its founders quit their jobs in 2013, “had no money whatsoever” and tried to make a go in an industry they loved but didn’t completely understand, Shohet told us. When they open, they’ll be working with robusta, a bean not used by most other coffee shops.
Black Sheep Coffee will be at 6240 E. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas. It’s expected to open in December 2023.
Original story written Aug. 23, 2023 and updated Oct. 23, 2023.
