After the sudden closure of Noble Ground Coffee at the Arizona Capitol Museum, two former baristas have reopened a new café in its place to continue serving regular customers, especially during the busy legislative session.
Noble Ground Coffee closed all locations on January 24 when its parent company decided to cease operations and lay off all employees. Three weeks later, Tara King, a former barista at Noble Ground, teamed up with Geena Stacy, another ex-employee, to reopen the shop as White Blossom Café. The name honors Arizona’s state flower.
King, who worked at Noble Ground’s downtown and Capitol locations, is now the owner of White Blossom Café. Just days after the closure, she contacted the Department of Economic Security (DES) and its Business Enterprise Program (BEP) to inquire about reopening the café in the same space.
“It started as a joke, something I thought someone else would do,” King said. “But then it became clear that maybe we could actually try this.”
With the support of Stacy, who had managed Noble Ground’s downtown and Capitol locations, King secured approval from DES for the new venture on February 12. By Arizona Statehood Day on February 14, White Blossom Café was ready to serve its community.
Stacy recalled how many regulars, including state employees, lobbyists, and lawmakers, had reached out to her after Noble Ground’s closure. “It was tough because we love this place and the Capitol regulars. They really rely on us,” Stacy said, noting that the café is one of the few coffee spots near the Capitol. “The people need their coffee, especially during session, and they don’t have another option.”
King also received support from the Capitol community. “So many people wanted to help us get back here, whether it was emotional support or just their need for coffee,” King said. “Seeing their excitement when we opened on Statehood Day made me feel like we were doing the right thing.”
For now, White Blossom Café offers a standard coffee menu with a small selection of pastries. King hopes to expand the menu and refresh the café’s decor after the legislative session ends and business slows. The café is currently open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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