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It was late July when Sheridan, the owner of Shadow Pies (read my review here), announced that she would be selling her mini pies at St. J Cyber Cafe. I had never heard of this coffee shop, but something about the retro aesthetic inspired me to drive there on a Saturday afternoon.
Nestled in East Hollywood, just a few blocks from the 101, is St. J Cyber Cafe, one of the most unique coffee shops I’ve ever visited in LA. Unless someone tipped you off about it, chances are you would never stumble upon it. The cafe is tucked away among the neighborhood’s Latino-owned businesses, with nothing more than a simple ‘coffee’ sign on its exterior wall.
Thankfully, I got there about 30 minutes before closing time, which was 4 pm. I was immediately thrilled by the abundance of plants, the ’90s TVs, and the ‘melted yin-yang’ art pieces.
But that’s not all. There’s also a record store attached to the space: Rubycon Records and Tapes. When I walked into the record store, two people dressed in black leather were browsing through the vinyl records. To complete the ’90s nostalgia, there was an MTV neon sign and more relics from the decade, including old computer monitors.
Since that visit, I have been back a few times and the atmosphere never ceases to amaze me. Owners Joseph Bellows and Crystal Hernandez, originally from Austin, Texas, opened St. J Cyber Cafe in early 2020. Rubycon Records and Tapes, despite being in the same space as St. J Cyber Cafe, is not run by Joseph and Crystal.
In this day and age, people are sucked into their phone screens more than ever, but Joseph and Crystal aim to create a community, fostering real-life connections.
They wanted to create a business with a purpose, a place where people could reach their full creative potential. Joseph previously worked as the creative director of SHED Barbershop in Austin, while Crystal has a master’s degree in fine arts and an impressive résumé that includes a fashion background and working in art galleries around New York City. It’s clear that both of them have a good eye for design, as they’ve beautifully curated the space to create a nostalgia-filled experience.
If you were born in the early ’90s, you might remember visiting a cyber cafe as a child. Back when personal computers weren’t yet a thing, cyber cafes offered people a place to ‘surf’ the internet. Also, remember those days when someone made a phone call and the internet got disconnected? Today, the concept of a cyber cafe is alien for people under 20. But beyond providing internet access and serving the occasional cup of coffee, cyber cafes were also places to socialize. I’m so happy that Joseph and Crystal have translated the essence of a ’90s cyber cafe into their coffee shop.
St. J Cyber Cafe combines art, events, and of course, coffee. It’s a place where you feel welcome regardless of your background, a space where creatives and free thinkers come together.
Enjoy your drink while perusing the space and browsing their apparel, merch, and old records from Rubycon Records and Tapes. Work on your laptop while you indulge in one of their outstanding beverages. Their lattes are amazing, but one of their signature drinks is the Lavender Matcha, which I haven’t tried yet. Hopefully soon!
They also host pop-ups featuring food vendors, local roasters, clothing brands, and national and international artists based in LA, further fostering a sense of community
I have already talked about Just What I Kneaded a few times on this blog. It’s my favorite bakery in LA, 100% vegan. I was delighted when the owner, Justine Hernández, announced on Instagram that she would be selling some of her pastries there. It’s nice that I don’t have to drive all the way to Frogtown if I’m in the mood for one of her pastries. I can just go to SAINT J.
Joseph, one of the owners, was there on both of my visits. What struck me about Joseph was how different his approach to customer service was from what I’d experienced at most coffee shops in LA. It was a more personal barista-customer interaction, which makes sense given their mission.
Josh Miranda is the graphic designer of St. J Cyber Cafe. He created their logo and visually appealing graphics using a dot-matrix font, a definite blast from the past.
St. J Cyber Cafe may be small, but its atmosphere, energy, and touch of nostalgia will keep you coming back.
Address: 4852 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029
Online store website here
Here’s a mini interview I did with Joseph via Instagram!
When did you move to LA? How different is LA from Austin?
We’ve been in LA for 3 years. LA is so much bigger, so many more people doing different things and new people to meet every day.
What are your favorite places in LA?
Barnsdall Art Park, the beach and the beach.
What about your favorite restaurants?
We spend all of our time in Koreatown: The Prince, HMS Bounty and Dan Sung Sa. Also Marouch Restaurant (Lebanese), which is right by our coffee shop.
What do you like about living in LA?
The weather.
What was the inspiration behind the TVs?
They were part of a larger installation by @slimreaperlightshow (artist) and we also use the space for photoshoots, music videos and other projects. Plus, it’s also a great backdrop for events.
Anything you want to say to future customers that are reading this?
Thank you for coming to check us out. We are always doing fun events and trying to add new drinks and baked goods. Follow us on social media for all the latest.
