BUSINESS FEATURE East Social House Hutto cafe crafts community space, festive lattes A t 9 a.m. on a Wednesday morning, the quiet hum of conversations inside East Navigating the coronavirus pandemic during her rst year in business posed its own challenges, Woods said. The co ee shop doubles as a gathering space and often hosted BY KELSEY THOMPSON
‘Tis the season
East Social House is adding a dose of holiday cheer with its latest round of seasonal avored lattes.
Cinnamon roll
Pumpkin spice
Social House percolates alongside the sounds of espresso machines whirring and co ee being poured. Owner Lisa Woods walks through her shop, waving to patrons along the way while pausing to sip on a latte. Woods opened East Social House in August 2019, overseeing the co ee shop while also owning her own photography business. As an entre- preneur, she said she spends hours working from co ee shops, drawn to them by their spirit and character. “I love co ee shops, in a community that needed more of an outlet. I wanted it to be very community-oriented.” East Social House is a co ee shop in downtown Hutto that prides itself on organic, fair trade co ee and in-house or locally sourced syrups, Woods said. Some customer favorites o East Social House’s menu include the avocado toast, Sweet Toddy cold brew, specialty lattes and gluten-free sweets, Woods said. She said her bourbon brownies and peanut butter cookies are pulled from her own recipe book and are desserts she has been preparing for the better part of a decade. and so when I travel, I seek out local co ee shops, and I go try them out,” Woods said. “What I didn’t want was to just be labeled as co ee, especially
Gingerbread Wintermint mocha
storytime sessions for children, served as a meeting place for city and school district leaders, and was where friends would meet after a busy workday. Because East Social House is more of a community hub than a grab-and-go shop, Woods said some customers were hesitant to stop in as opposed to drive-thru chain options in the area. However, for cus-
East Social House opened in August 2019 and has become a social hub within downtown Hutto. (Photos by Kelsey Thompson/Community Impact Newspaper)
tomers who do pop in, Woods said the shop has become a space where strangers can become close friends. “It is more like a com-
Customer favorites include its Sweet Toddy cold brew and pastries.
Owner Lisa Woods said she is drawn to the character of independent cafes.
munity local space that you go to and get to know a
lot of people,” Woods said. Alongside its menu items, Woods said East Social House’s hero meals have taken o . Customers purchase food from East Social House, and the business then donates the meals to residents in need. That, she said, is the spirit of East Social House and, by extension, of Hutto. While many customer reactions stand out, one of the highest com- pliments paid to East Social House came from Todd Robison of Hutto ISD, Woods said. “He called us ‘Cheers,’” she said, smiling. “The place where you go, where everybody knows your name.”
East Social House features in-house and locally sourced syrups.
East Social House’s name pays homage to its location in downtown Hutto.
East Social House 109 East St., Hutto 512-846-4062 www.eastsocialhouse.com Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
1660
79
N
20% off 6 OR MORE BOTTLES * in-store ; online
We encourage you to order online or download our mobile app for quick and easy delivery or pick up.
twinliquors.com
*Holiday Wine Sale runs 11/16/20-12/24/20. Discount applies to wines 750ml or larger, includes Sparkling Wine. No further discount on Sale Items, Final Few or Closeouts. Some exclusions apply. Please drink responsibly.
22
COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Powered by FlippingBook