Retrospect Coffee Bar
Small venue with locally roasted coffee, craft beer & wine plus crepes, paninis & outdoor seating.
In May of 2017, a small piece of Houston history from the 1920’s reopened to the public as Retrospect Coffee Bar. The little structure (297 square feet to be exact) that began life as one of the city’s first neighborhood gas stations, is now serving up lattes, crepes and craft beers at the corner of La Branch and Alabama, directly across from the Houston Community College’s central campus.
1920s photo of Retrospect
When it first opened in in 1921, the gas station was notable as the site of Houston’s first “Kelvinator”, a great advancement in technology that allowed customers to purchase a cold drink while they refueled. For the next 50 years, the station proudly served the community of the Greater Third Ward. But by the 1970’s, as the neighborhood gas station was eclipsed by full-service convenience stores on major thoroughfares and highways, the little station fell into disrepair.
Average user rating
- Website Visit Website
- Payment Accepted All Payments
- Wifi Access Paid Wifi
- Pets No Pets Allowed
- Parking Free Parking
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