Caffe Luxxe: Resilience Amidst Devastation
The Pacific Palisades location of Caffe Luxxe weeks after the Palisades fire. All images courtesy of Caffe Luxxe.
In the wake of the catastrophic wildfires that swept through Los Angeles, the community has faced a multitude of socio-political and environmental challenges. However, the most heart-wrenching outcome remains the loss of homes and the displacement of families. Recent reports indicate that over 12,000 structures were destroyed and approximately a quarter of a million residents were displaced, with many left permanently homeless.
Among the casualties of the fire was the beloved Caffe Luxxe location in Pacific Palisades. Once a vibrant gathering place, the café is now reduced to a haunting scene of ash and twisted metal, with remnants of a 2-group Synesso Cyncra espresso machine visible among the debris.
For the owners of Caffe Luxxe, coffee shops represent more than just physical spaces; they are akin to second homes. “We’re all devastated by the loss of our café and our community,” remarked Mark Wain, Co-Founder and President of Caffe Luxxe, in an interview with Daily Coffee News. “If you see before and after pictures of the Palisades, it looks like a war zone.”
The shop’s 2-group Synesso Syncra machine in the rubble.
The Pacific Palisades location was one of four out of a total of eight Caffe Luxxe establishments that had to be evacuated during the recent fires. Currently, the Malibu location remains shuttered, while the Pacific Highway site is undergoing cleanup efforts.
On the fateful day the fire engulfed the Palisades, the café’s landlord initially informed the owners that their establishment had survived the flames, unlike many neighboring structures. However, the reality of the situation was starkly different when they later viewed local news coverage, revealing the extent of the destruction. Wain described the incident as a “total loss.”
“We have several customers—almost too many to count—who have unfortunately lost their homes, and at least one team member has also been affected,” Wain shared. In a show of solidarity, Caffe Luxxe management relocated displaced employees to other café locations and continued to provide financial support to those who felt unsafe returning to work.
Despite the immense challenges faced, the situation has afforded the owners valuable insights, particularly regarding the unwavering resilience of their staff, customers, and the community at large. Wain expressed deep gratitude towards the first responders who worked tirelessly during the crisis.
The Palisades location before the fire.
“We are especially thankful for the fact that, given the size and scope of this disaster, there was relatively minimal loss of life,” Wain stated. “We can only point to the tremendous work put in by first responders and for the residents and businesses in the area who heeded the evacuation orders.”
As Wain and co-owner Gary Chau were recently granted access to the site, their immediate focus is on assessing the damage and planning for the future. “We are bent, but not broken,” Wain asserted confidently. “We will be back. The Palisades community will thrive again. We—the neighborhood, the community, and the company—will absolutely rebuild, and we plan to be on the ground, helping the community heal and rebuild as soon as we are allowed.”
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