Specialty Sips and Traditional Tapas

CAFE CALYPSO’S NEW DOWNTOWN LOCATION SHARES EUROPEAN FLAVOR AND AMBIANCE

BY: JULIETA HERNANDEZ PHOTOS BY: RACHEL BENAVIDES

Cafe Calypso, the beloved coffee house of Moore Plaza for 30 years, has opened the doors of its brand-new location in Downtown Corpus Christi. While long-time patrons have come to love the communal, casual atmosphere and live music at the original spot, the new locale isn’t just a copy; it boasts an entirely updated cafe/bar experience reminiscent of the places on every European street corner. Not a coffee shop, but not a bar, either … Calypso Starr Street Cafe marries both with a curated selection of wine, beer and signature Calypso coffees, plus small plates and pastries.

Expanding the Calypso experience was a dream of owners Marcy Okumus and her late husband Erdal. “Erdal and I had always talked about opening a wine and tapas place as a second business venture. So I thought, ‘Why not? I’ll do this, and I'll tackle it, and it’d be an homage to Erdal. I’ll have some fun with it,’” Okumus said.

Her goal is to create an overall international feel for patrons. Okumus worked with a local representative to curate a selection of 12 red wines and 10 white/rosé wines, while the beer options include local brews and IPAs as well as imported varieties from Belgium, Germany, Jamaica, Ireland, France and Mexico. As for the coffee, the new location will offer Turkish, Vietnamese and Cubanstyle coffees in addition to the standard espresso beverages locals are accustomed to. Visitors can expect wine flights to be available soon, as well, another unique aspect of the new venture.

The Okumuses were passionate about the roasting aspect of coffee and the ritualistic nature of enjoying a cup with others, which became cornerstones of the original Cafe Calypso. “My husband Erdal and I built the business before coffee and coffeehouses were a phenomenon here, but we had moved from Turkey, where they boast the first coffee house, in Istanbul, centuries ago,” Okumus said. “Cafe Calypso was a place for people from all cultures and backgrounds to meet and share ideas over coffee.” Calypso Starr Street embodies this concept, mixed with a little mezze experience. With an emphasis on small plates and sophisticated beverages, the new shop offers a unique menu from its scratch kitchen and worldly desserts as decadent as ever — all with a widewindowed, open view of Starr Street.

With overflowing community support, Okumus has been able to open Calypso Starr Street Cafe in the evening, and she’s excited to bring back the live music part of the shop’s culture. If you are in search of a quaint cafe experience complete with specialty beverages, Cafe Calypso Start Street Cafe is the spot for you.