Capitol Cafe Bounces Back with Support from Beloved Community Figures

Following the abrupt closure of Noble Ground Coffee at the Arizona Capitol Museum, two former baristas have launched a new cafe to cater to loyal patrons during the legislative session.

Noble Ground closed all of its locations on January 24, when its parent company decided to shut down operations and lay off employees. Three weeks later, former baristas Tara King and Geena Stacy reopened the café, now named White Blossom Cafe, a nod to Arizona’s state flower.

King, who served as a barista at both the downtown and Capitol locations, is the owner of the new cafe. After Noble Ground’s closure, she promptly contacted the Department of Economic Security and its Business Enterprise Program to discuss the possibility of launching a new venture in the same space.

The idea for the cafe sparked when King and fellow baristas shared their experiences after being laid off. “I thought, ‘oh, that’s something somebody else would do,’” she recalled. “Then it just kind of became one of those things where it’s like, actually, I guess we could try.”

Teamwork was crucial as King partnered with Stacy, the former manager of Noble Ground, to get the cafe operational. Their contract with DES was approved on February 12, and by February 14, coinciding with Arizona Statehood Day, White Blossom Cafe opened its doors.

On Statehood Day, the Capitol Museum held a reception, prompting the duo to ensure the cafe was ready for this important celebration. Stacy, who had worked for nearly a year at Noble Ground, expressed her affection for the Capitol community. Many regulars reached out when the café closed, expressing their disappointment.

“It was tough, because we love being here so much and we love our Capitol regulars,” Stacy said, emphasizing the importance of their resumed service.

White Blossom Cafe stands out as one of the few coffee options near the Capitol, which makes it a vital stop for lawmakers and staff navigating busy weeks. “We have the people, they will come,” Stacy remarked, confident in their new establishment’s potential.

King noted the overwhelming support from regulars, many of whom are state employees, lobbyists, or lawmakers themselves. “I have had so much help from people who wanted us to be here,” she said, highlighting the excitement that filled the cafe on their opening day. “It’s been really nice to see.”

Currently, White Blossom offers a standard coffee shop menu with limited pastries, but King hopes to refresh the decor and expand the offerings after the legislative session concludes. The cafe operates Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.