USPS Publication Number 16300
T h is C om mu n it y Ne w sp ap er is a publ ic at ion of Es c a mbi a-S a nt a R os a B a r A ss o c i at ion
Se r v i ng t he Fi r st Jud icia l Ci rcu it Section A, Page 1
Vol. 22, No. 27
V isit T he S ummation W eekly O nline : SummationWeekly.com
July 6, 2022
1 Section, 12 Pages
WHAT ’ S BREWING
AT THE REX? by Nicole Willis • photos by Guy Stevens
I
f you’ve ever taken a stroll through Downtown Pensacola, you’ve likely noticed the bright red and yellow hues adorning the marquee outside the historic Rex Theatre on North Palafox Street. Tucked away inside the Art Deco-style building, which is also home to Generation Church, is downtown’s newest coffee shop—The Rex Café.
The idea for the café served a 20 or 24-ounce stemmed from a long-time drink at a café. In America, desire of Generation Church people want big portions Lead Pastor, Roger Hirth, and drinks on the go, it’s who wanted to share his love just not like that in Europe,” of coffee with the church Reaud said. community by providing Renaud and Gray want to them with a welcoming deliver authentic Europeanplace to gather and visit style beverages and provide throughout the week outside customers with a more of regular church services. relaxing experience instead Hirth’s vision was finally of just rushing in and out of brought to life this year the door. with the opening of GenerThe Rex Café’s menu is ation Church’s nonprof it reminiscent of what you coffee shop, which was aptly would find when walking named The Rex Café. into a French or Italian café, The Rex Café’s Store prioritizing small drinks that Manager, Lois Renaud, and invite customers to sit, relax, Assistant Manager, Annie enjoy the space and sip on Gray, have been working their coffee. tirelessly to execute Hirth’s “About 80 percent of our vision for the café. Renaud, menu consists of espressooriginally from France, based drinks,” Renaud said. sought to foster the culture “We put a lot of emphasis on found in European cafés people experiencing highthrough the interior design quality coffee.” elements and authentic menu Among the espresso-based offerings. Renaud explained drinks are lattes, cappuccithat European café culture nos, macchiatos and cortafocuses on high-quality dos. The Rex Café will also espresso and a relaxed atmo- be serving up two of their sphere, whereas American signature lattes—a sweet cafés usually focus on large and floral honey lavender and sugary drinks that can be latte and a buttery popcorn taken on the go. latte, which was specifically “I was shocked when I was designed with the idea of
the drink being served in a theatre. Apart from espressobased drinks, The Rex Cafe also offers cold brew, nitro cold brew, assorted teas and regular drip coffee. The menu also features a small assortment of pastries, such as butter or almond croissants from Craft Bakery and doughnuts by Le Dough. The cafe management team even worked with Le Dough to have them craft a custom doughnut for the cafe using their coffee to create a special vegan coffee doughnut. When it came to selecting which local bakeries to collaborate with, Gray explained that it all came down to quality. ”We wanted to find local businesses that match our goals and aesthetics that can also provide the quality and the level of excellence that we’re trying to deliver.”
About 80 percent of our menu consists of espresso-based drinks. We put a lot of emphasis on people experiencing high-quality coffee.” The cafe’s chic interior taking that first sip and expefeatures design elements riencing a calming moment,” specif ically selected to Gray said. provide the look and feel One of Pensacola’s most of a relaxed European-style iconic landmarks that once cafe. The design features a housed a furniture store, well-balanced mix of natu- concert venue, and movie ral materials and modern theater is now the proud decorative elements, giving home to The Rex Café. the space a bright, open The Rex Café is located in and airy feel, with plenty of the front lobby of The Rex natural wood, white marble Theatre at 18 N Palafox St. countertops, clusters of seat- in downtown Pensacola and ing arrangements and bright is open Tuesday-Thursday pops of color. from 8 am to 12 pm and Some of the original Friday-Saturday from 8 am architectural elements from to 2 pm. Follow @therexcafe the old theatre were also on Instagram and Facebook preserved and incorpo- to check out the menu and rated into the overall design. photos of the new space. Adorning the exposed brick The café had its soft openwalls are decorative art ing on April 14 and its grand pieces and vintage film post- opening on June 11. The ers that pay homage to the grand opening was a few theatre, while also providing months later because Gray a contemporary feel. and Renaud wanted to make Gray and Renaud hope that sure things were perfect. the café’s welcoming design “We wanted to perfect the will promote the European aesthetics, interior design, concept of having customers and the drinks. We also spent sit down and stay for a while time training our staff and inside the café. now have a great staff who “Our little motto is from are doing fabulous,” Gray sip to soul—allowing your explained. • soul to rest by coming here, Barista Faith Brown prepares an iced latte for a customer during the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Rex Cafe coffee shop located in the lobby of the historic Rex Theatre.
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