Milky Coffee Bar Corpus Christi

Frankie Reyna has been putting his “blood, sweat, tears and queerness” into his new business, Milky Coffee Bar.

Reyna, a local drag queen, said his coffee shop will open Halloween weekend at The Market on Everhart.

The new cafe has a cozy feel with black and white contrast fixtures and the aroma of spice and coffee in the air.

Reyna said the inspiration for Milky Coffee Bar was the “West Coast vibe” of Los Angeles and the “eclectic feel” of Austin. He said his favorite local spots include Coffee Waves, Stingers and Cafe Calypso.

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Frankie Reyna, owner of Milky Coffee Bar, pretends to talk on a rotary phone hanging on the wall of the new coffee shop, located at 5892 Everhart Road in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Oct. 25, 2022.

“I’ve spent many days in those shops admiring, decompressing, studying and working there,” Reyna said. “I always felt relaxed in there. I feel like coffee shops are a bubble of safety. Not only could I get my coffee fix, I can sit there and not feel rushed.”

Reyna said he wanted to bring that same appeal to his shop for his customers. Born in Sinton, he said he didn’t have a cafe like Milky Coffee Bar growing up.

“For me, this is the coffee shop I wish I had in my hometown,” Reyna said. “This is where you’ll go for your cheat day, after a break-up and to celebrate your wins. This is a safe place where you will be accepted no matter what.”

Reyna said his staff will start off with his family and his friend, transgender activist Kitana Sanchez. He said Sanchez will be his head barista.

“She was my supervisor at Starbucks 11 years ago, so it was full circle when I asked her to be part of this with me,” Reyna said.

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“As cliché as it may sound, it is kind of like riding a bike,” Sanchez said of working with Reyna again. “We both know how the flow of things operate within a coffee shop, and we know how much hard work must be put in in order to ensure that the business flourishes.

“It’s also slightly different now because we have grown closer after working together within the local entertainment scene. I see it as working with a close family member.”

Sanchez said she’s always overjoyed and excited when any of her friends pursue their dreams. She said seeing Reyna accomplish this goal in his life is a “proud moment.”

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A coffee mug sits on a table at Milky Coffee Bar, a new coffee shop located at 5892 Everhart Road in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Oct. 25, 2022.

The menu will include hot and iced drinks and food including Reyna’s take on the South Texas favorite banana wafer pudding.

“Our banana pudding has vanilla wafers imported from West Texas, organic bananas soaked in a cinnamon cane syrup, a vanilla bean mousse and it’s topped off with whipped cream and caramel,” Reyna said. “It’s called the ‘Oh, (expletive)! Banana Pudding’ because it’s so good it makes you say, ‘Oh, (expletive).'”

Reyna said without the support from his family, especially his mother, he would not have been able to go through with starting his first business. He said he’s thankful she pushed him to make Milky Coffee Bar.

“I hope that in choosing to move forward with this dream, I’ve made her super proud in the process,” Reyna said.

With future plans to eventually open two locations on the city’s Southside and in the downtown area, Reyna said he will be taking it one day at a time and enjoy every second of it. He said while he had no idea where to start when it came to making a business, he just knew to follow his gut.

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“You can have a dream, but it’s always going to stay a dream until you actually start researching and looking into things,” Reyna said. “Sometimes, it’s as simple as looking up a YouTube video of how to open a coffee shop.”

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Milky Coffee Bar

Where: 5892 Everhart Road

Hours: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday

Website:instagram.com/milkycoffeebar

John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com or Twitter @johnpoliva.

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