Boyle Heights Community Coffee Shop Primera Taza Could Be Forced to Move

Standing up

For years Primera Taza Coffee House has stood as a great example of what it means for coffee and community to come together in Boyle Heights. Owners Chuy Tovar and Rosalinda Hernandez have run the ten-year-old shop since 2015, but are now in danger of losing their lease in the rapidly-changing neighborhood. According to their own Instagram post, the place may have as little as ten days left before big changes start to happen.

Unlike Weird Wave Coffee down the street, which garnered a lot of early attention for its perceived gentrification, Primera Taza has worked hard to maintain its status as a friendly community hangout, a place for sandwiches and Mexican roasted beans, and quality conversation. In recent months the plan has even been to move the coffee shop towards a 100% employee-owned model, but now that could be in jeopardy as soon as next month. More on this as it comes.

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