Moab’s Aaron Aboites has been involved in the coffee industry for nearly ten years. For the past two, he’s worked with his family at the Gelateria and Espresso Bar on Main Street. Last year, he opened the walk-up Espresso Wagon.
So when he heard Natali Zollinger, founder of Rize Training Studio on 400 East, was looking to sublease the building next door, he jumped at the opportunity to start a new coffee shop. Less than two months later, Más café opened its doors for business.
Located across from Milt’s, the shop is one of a group of new businesses to the area. On its left, Rize Studio offers a variety of fitness classes from yoga to dance to self-defense. Breathe Skin Care and Esthetics and Lotus Massage moved in directly behind it. Together, they form what Zollinger describes as a wellness hub on Moab’s “Main Street for locals.”
“I wanted something that was for the locals. Something that was a collective,” she says. “I wanted to potentially bring in people that felt the same way—that wanted a collective group of businesses on this corridor.”
Aboites says the support from his neighboring businesses has been “really awesome” as he got his coffee shop up and running. So far, he estimates that most of his customers have been locals, many of whom are stopping by as they walk their dog or after picking up kids from school. Classes coming in and out of Rize Studio swing by regularly for their caffeine fix too.
“It’s been fantastic to see the support, just local people showing up and enjoying their own café,” he says. “We want to be part of the community as much as we can.”
In the few weeks the shop has been open, Aboites has already formed partnerships with other local businesses. T-shirts from Ar-tee-sian hang on the side wall and fresh baked goods from Baked by Rachel and Adobe Garden Apothecary are on sale daily. The store’s tagline, “We bloom together,” embodies Aboites’ philosophy behind these collaborations.
“We can bring more into this space with adding local products, working with different people here in town,” he explains. “We can grow together as we get busier and busier.”
The shop’s menu and atmosphere draw from Aboites’ Mexican roots: He spent his childhood in Mexico City and moved to Moab for his middle and high school years. Among the coffee shop’s offerings is “café de olla,” — or “coffee of the pot” in Spanish — which he remembers his family brewing in Mexico.
“They used to make this pot in the morning with cinnamon and all the spice,” he says as soft Latin music plays in the background. “Then we add the coffee to it. And then you would drink coffee the entire day from that pot.”
Más café’s version of café de olla uses syrup made with cinnamon, orange zest, brown sugar, black pepper and other spices.
Aboites has big plans for his café. He eventually wants to add a seating area, start offering grab-and-go foods and continue collaborating with other businesses. He also wants to include gelato on the menu.
“We just want to, you know, supply a place where people feel welcome and they can enjoy themselves for a little bit,” he says. “It’s been amazing. I’m very grateful for everything.”
Más café is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week, at 344 S. 400 East, Moab.
