Some may say it’s the biggest thing to happen to North Third Avenue since the street re-opening and they wouldn’t necessarily be wrong.

The buzz which has surrounded Refuge Coffee since its soft opening in mid-January and its ribbon cutting at the start of February has yet to let up.

“It feels amazing,” co-owner, Kara McGaffee shared of being open for business.

“I think it’s still sinking in for me,” fellow co-owner Kirsten Rodrigues added.

The coffee slinging duo shared what started as a vision in 2019 to a partnership with a purpose has already exceeded what they’d envisioned.

Sitting in the coffee shop at 113 North Third in Oakdale, there is not a trace of evidence of the former Curves fitness center it once housed.

“We want it to be for everybody and for everybody to feel at home,” Rodrigues said of the overall space with tables and chairs, custom benches and even a cozy couch.

Thanks to partnerships with Tim Pitassi at Tim Pitassi Construction, as well as the skilled eye of Interior Designer Kristi Riva at Riva Design Co. and many others, the new business owners were able to create a space which is not just aesthetically pleasing but functional for mommies with strollers, group meetings and dog owners as well.

“A lot of the things you see in here, are not what we initially thought it was going to be,” Rodrigues stated. “A lot of things evolved as we started to see it come together.”

“For us, we had to see it first. See it, feel it, touch it. We literally had to see everything,” McGaffee added, noting the patience of everyone they worked with to make the dream a reality. “We see it and we’re like, okay we can do that.”

“Poor Tim,” Rodrigues interjected with a chuckle. “He would call us and say, you need to come down here, because he just knew. He knew we had to see it to make a decision.”

As decisions were being made with the paid professionals, the duo also enlisted the help of family and friends to help with the uniqueness of the ‘refuge.’

Two long conference type tables grace the space, each custom built by Rodrigues’ father Steve Cordoza. The “merch wall,” as they call it, featuring Refuge merchandise, coffee beans and custom mugs by artisan Rylie Bairos was also built by Cordoza with the help of longtime family friend Wes Dobbins.

Dobbins also built a custom bench for the shop, following the recommendation of Rodrigues’ father. While many hands may make for light work, the symmetry of the space is testament to the shared vision of all who were involved with the project.

“That’s what is special,” Rodrigues said. “Everybody that touched this place, had the same intent and thoughtfulness that we did. They had our backs. They would bring their ideas to the table and so the intention behind everything is what makes it special.”

For many it has been a labor of love, partnering with the two women as they worked on bringing their vision for a community hub to fruition. Their dedication some might say was unwavering, as the transformation of the space was just shy of a two-year project, with the groundbreaking taking place officially in April of 2023.

Not ones to be swayed by setbacks, the coffee enthusiast entrepreneurs began sharing their passion and vision via a coffee cart in August of 2021 and concluded in December of 2024.

The “cart,” also constructed by Rodrigues’ father, was featured at a number of pop-up events, as well as Farmers Markets throughout the valley.

Prior to opening the new location, the team rented and used the Bianchi Community Center kitchen. Required to brew their coffee in a certified kitchen, they would pay to rent that each time they hosted an event.

“Half our menu is what we’ve been doing for years,” McGaffee shared regarding the learning curve of making a cup of coffee at their newly opened coffee bar.

“When we opened, I didn’t anticipate the cart menu to continue to be as popular as it was before we had the espresso machine,” Rodrigues added of the menu which offers variations of traditional espresso drinks under “the Bar” and fan favorites from “the Cart” menus.

Since opening, the team has grown from the two owners and an additional staff of one, to now a total team of five. Both indicated they are looking to expand their staff, but are cautious, as well as intentional on how they do so.

“We’re spoiled with who we have,” McGaffee said of their current staff. “They’re all amazing.”

“We’re so lucky with the staff that we have. As we’re building, we just want to make sure that we grow with team-oriented people,” Rodrigues noted.

“We’re being picky,” McGaffee confessed of selecting future staffers. “This is our baby and this is where everyone works (behind the bar) so we have to make sure it’s the right fit.”

The staffing being just right for the business owners is a crucial piece to not just the success of the business, but also increasing the hours which the shop is open.

Current hours for Refuge Coffee are Wednesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“We’re still moms,” McGaffee said of the family friendly business and its hours. “So, we’re trying to give our kids the time that they need in the morning. Eventually opening earlier would be ideal.”

Yet the limited hours have not seemed to deter Refuge fans. According to the entrepreneurs, much to their surprise and pleasure, customers arrive early and wait for the doors to open.

“People have spots,” McGaffee stated, laying out the varying areas of the coffee shop and where regulars like to sit.

The duo also shared being pleasantly surprised by the consistent flow of coffee enthusiasts stopping in throughout the morning and into the early afternoon.

“The whole goal was to be a hub. To be the place where people wanted to start or finish their day with,” McGaffee said. “Not because of us, but because how they feel when they walk in.

“So to see that truly lived out is really wild,” she continued. “That’s the surreal part. The building is beautiful and all the things in it are amazing, but the whole idea was to make this experience from when you walk in the door to when you walk out.”

“My hope is that people can feel, that is our genuine goal,” Rodrigues added. “That when you come in, we are genuinely happy to see you. When we ask how you are, we really want to know.”

So as the team looks forward to growing the business as the weeks pass, patrons can look forward to quality coffee, genuine service, as well as baked goods and treats from local bakers. Mostly they can look forward to a space which is exactly as the founders envisioned, one buzzing with community.

Information on updated hours, as well as varying food offerings updates, can be found on social media pages: Refuge Coffee Oakdale on Facebook or on Instagram.