Elisa Garcia and Leonardo Munoz-Corona, a dynamic husband-and-wife team, have launched Viva! Mexi Coffee Shop, marking a vibrant new addition to East Colfax. Situated at the intersection of Colorado Boulevard and East Colfax Avenue, the café opened its doors on August 13, blending a love for food, coffee, and community.
Garcia, a Denver native with roots in Uruguay, and Munoz-Corona, originally from Mexico, first crossed paths in 2013 while living in Singapore. Their shared passion for music led to marriage and a life abroad before they relocated to Los Angeles and returned to Denver in 2018.
Munoz-Corona, who has long desired to run his own establishment, is now realizing that dream at Viva! Mexi Coffee Shop. “Leonardo wanted a space where he could manage things his way. His expertise in the kitchen made this a natural step,” Garcia says.
Instead of a full-scale restaurant, the couple opted for a café that offers a range of food options. Although awaiting a permit for a hoodless vent essential for preparing Mexican tortas and sandwiches, Munoz-Corona currently bakes fresh pastries daily. The selection includes chocolate croissants, bear claws, various Danishes, and a unique guava cream cheese knot that Garcia praises as a rare treat.
Weekend specials, like the chilaquiles verde, add to the café’s appeal with limited availability.
Garcia, focusing on the coffee experience, chose Huckleberry for its high-end specialty quality with a Latin American twist. The café’s offerings include espresso-based drinks, drip coffee, and a selection of specialty beverages that honor the couple’s heritage. The café de olla, made with Mexican rock sugar and cinnamon, complements drip coffee, lattes, and the café de olla au lait. The Veracruz-originated café lechero, featuring a caramelized milk flavor, is prepared using a kettle, evoking the traditional Latin American style.
The venue, once a sushi restaurant, has been transformed by Garcia and Munoz-Corona. An office space has been converted into an art gallery adorned with Garcia’s vibrant murals. A multifunctional bookshelf, the “Murphy stage,” is designed to be cleared and folded down for music performances. With aspirations to host monthly music nights upon receiving their liquor license, the couple aims to create a lively community hub.
“We envision Viva! Mexi Coffee Shop as a place where high-quality coffee and food meet Latin American charm, complemented by art and music,” Garcia concludes.