Coffee lovers and juice connoisseurs would be hard-pressed to find a cozier place in Tomball to sip their brews and blends. Exposed brick walls, an eccentric bookshelf and bare light bulbs dangling from the ceiling give Re:Bar Cafe & Juicestillery its distinct, welcoming vibe.
Located on the bottom floor of a Christian non-profit venue on Main Street, this little steampunk cafe is easy to miss. Once inside, however, its cozy aura and hearty menu is hard to forget. Each meal or drink purchase goes to support people recovering from addiction.
Diners can order fresh-made waffles for breakfast, hot sandwiches for lunch or vegan smoothie bowls for an anytime treat. Waffles come with a diner’s choice of butter and maple syrup, strawberries and Nutella or any number of sweet or salty toppings. Try the Islander, topped with coconut flakes, slivered almonds and caramelized bananas for a flavor-packed combination.
And let’s not forget about Re:Bar’s coffee and fresh juice. Turkish coffees, teas and lattes flavored with mint or mocha-praline combos are just a few of the specialties.
Alongside these brews, is a surprising selection of “wellness shots.” The shots are made from potent flavors such as ginger and turmeric. Some - the Fire shot for instance - are not for the faint of heart. It’s a daring blend of apple cider vinegar, garlic and habanero pepper.
Re:Bar is also home to Steampunk Juice, a locally-made cold-press juice brand. The cafe is closed on Friday and devotes the entire day to pressing juices made from seasonal produce.
But for all of its quaint ambiance and tasty food items, Re:Bar serves a higher purpose. The cafe is an outgrowth of The Renewal Center, a Christian-based non-profit. The group offers therapy, meeting space and housing for women recovering from addictions. Proceeds from Re:Bar directly benefit The Renewal Center projects.
“Here we recognize that we’re part of something greater than ourselves,” says director Aaron Edwards. Aaron, a Tomball native and Christian pastor, opened the location in 2017 along with long-time friend Kelly Hall.
Aaron and Kelly worked together for several years completing church projects including projects for the National Association for Christian Recovery. By directing The Renewal Center, the two hope to create a place where people can find support, heal from past traumas and make friends.
“Everyone is on their own path with their own ups and downs,” says Kelly, a mom of four and health enthusiast. It was actually Kelly’s love for fresh juice that provided the catalyst for Steampunk Juice. The chilled, bottled juices can be purchased either at the cafe or on Saturdays at the Tomball Farmer’s Market.
What binds all of these efforts together is a commitment to serving the community. Re:Bar sponsors Christmas presents for low-income families and the cafe offers a free weekly community lunch every Thursday. Anyone who wishes to donate a lunch can do so on the Re:Bar website. Upstairs The Renewal Center hosts classes such as art therapy.
The Re:Bar staff also use their own personal touch to make people feel welcome. General manager, Anita Edwards, is keen to remember names and orders. Chef Karensa Bain takes special care to plate every waffle, omelette or smoothie bowl she touches. Above all, Aaron says he hopes Re:Bar can be a place where people enter as strangers and leave as friends.
Re:Bar Cafe Juicestillery
416 W Main St #5534, Tomball
"Here we recognize that we’re part of something greater than ourselves"
