{"id":18554,"date":"2022-07-05T10:50:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-05T15:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mitchellhamline.edu\/news\/?p=18554"},"modified":"2022-07-06T09:40:26","modified_gmt":"2022-07-06T14:40:26","slug":"alum-couple-opens-law-themed-coffee-shop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mitchellhamline.edu\/news\/2022\/07\/05\/alum-couple-opens-law-themed-coffee-shop\/","title":{"rendered":"Alum couple opens law-themed coffee shop"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Inti Mart\u00ednez-Alem\u00e1n ’16 and Ofelia Ponce ’21<\/p><\/div>\n

A married couple who both attended Mitchell Hamline recently opened what they believe might be the first law-themed coffee shop in the country. Using the Spanish word for \u201clawyers,\u201d Abogados Caf\u00e9 sits below the law office Inti Martinez-Alem\u00e1n \u201916 and Ofelia Ponce \u201919 run in the Como Park neighborhood of St. Paul.<\/p>\n

The idea for the shop was born from the pair\u2019s own experience seeking out coffee, as detailed in a recent St. Paul Pioneer Press article:<\/p>\n

While working in the office, they would have to drive a ways for coffee, and oftentimes from a chain coffee shop. Ponce has always loved coffee, so she thought starting her own caf\u00e9 would be a great idea.<\/em><\/p>\n

In order to rezone the property, Ponce and Mart\u00ednez-Alem\u00e1n had to collect signatures from neighborhood residents. Before even hearing the plans for Abogados Caf\u00e9, neighbors were saying \u201cOh, a coffee shop would be nice.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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Ofelia Ponce ’21 at the counter at Abogados Cafe.<\/p><\/div>\n

Martinez-Alem\u00e1n and Ponce both grew up on Honduras and were high school sweethearts, according to the news site Bring Me The News:<\/p>\n

The couple moved to Minnesota around four and a half years ago and founded\u00a0Ceiba F\u00f4rte Law Firm<\/a>, where they serve Spanish-speaking clients in business, civil and employment litigation matters.<\/em><\/p>\n

Opening a coffee shop was always a dream, Ponce said. A couple of years ago, she began envisioning a place where Latin American culture would be celebrated and the community would feel welcomed.<\/em><\/p>\n

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The law-themed menu at Abogados Cafe.<\/p><\/div>\n

The caf\u00e9, at 1053 Dale St. N, currently only offers items for take-out, but there are plans to offer in-person seating soon. In addition to decorating the space with art and designs from Latin America, the menu offers a hat tip to their legal careers. Here, \u201cmotion granted\u201d is a latte you can order with sweet coconut. Or, if you prefer cayenne and Ceylon cinnamon, try the \u201cfearless lawtte.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more about the shop, including hours.<\/a><\/p>\n

New coffee shop in St. Paul\u2019s Como Park celebrates owners\u2019 Latin American heritage, legal backgrounds<\/a> (St. Paul Pioneer Press)<\/p>\n

Abogados Cafe brings organic, Latin American coffee to St. Paul<\/a> (Bring Me The News)<\/p>\n

Inti Martinez-Alem\u00e1n also was interviewed earlier this year on the Spanish-language news outlet El Minnesota de Hoy about his life and career in the law:<\/p>\n

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