If you’ve recently attended a Dripping Springs school celebration, church festival, or community event, chances are you’ve spotted the big white ice cream truck named for a 10-year-old boy.
“I loved the idea of owning an ice cream truck,” says owner Juan Chan, so in 2022 he purchased the treat-mobile and put his youngest son’s name on it. Now when Evan’s Ice Cream truck rolls up, Juan always draws a crowd as he dishes out his creamy soft-serve ice cream in cups, cones, and root beer floats.
But it all actually started in 2016 with a food truck named Le Muse Coffee Bar, offering coffee, smoothies, iced drinks, tea, breakfast tacos, and pastries. Soon Juan added a brick-and-mortar location that has grown into Le Muse Coffee and Wine, now nestled in the Caliterra community.
Community matters to Juan, so everything in this cozy coffee shop is locally sourced, from the coffee beans to the tea, wine, souvenir mugs, and succulent centerpieces. “We support other businesses in town,” he says. “That’s the way it should be.” He also sponsors local sports and performing arts groups, RED Arena, Foster Village, and Founders Day.
In this family business, Juan’s wife, Thavy Maes, manages things behind the scenes. Behind the counter, you might find the couple’s 21-year-old son, Eric, who has been helping out since he was just 13.
As for Evan, he’s still a bit young to pour coffee, but Juan has started teaching him how to serve ice cream. For now, “He mostly makes appearances,” laughs Juan, but “I think he’s going to be a big part of Le Muse in the future.”
Indeed, the fourth grader will likely lean toward being involved in his dad’s business, as Juan is dedicated to prioritizing family. “Make time for your kids,” he states. “No matter how busy, how stressed you are, family has to come first.” Juan shares lunch with Evan each week at the elementary school and commits to being there for every school drop-off and pick-up.
In the latest Le Muse news, the business is opening a second location in Dripping Springs’ Clock Tower Square in June. With a full kitchen, the new shop will roast its own coffee beans and expand to offer lunch and dinner items. And of course, the menu will also include home-made desserts that pair perfectly with—you guessed it—soft-serve ice cream.
LeMuseCoffeeandWineBar.com | @lemusecoffeebar