Love Coffee, Love People. This is the heartbeat of Lamppost. It is a simple phrase with a lot of depth, and the story behind the mantra isn't all that different. As a young teenager of 13, Brian Burns and a few of his friends were biking through their hometown of Round Rock when they spotted a coffee shop: Saradora’s. It was a hot summer day, and the shop had sleek floors, marble accents, and cool air-conditioning, which was enough to invite them in. What initially started as a desperate stop for ice water and a space to cool off became an hours-long checkers session. Sara, the owner, eventually convinced Brian and his friends to try Italian sodas. Dazzled and inspired by the shop’s atmosphere and Sara’s kindness, Brian told her, “I love this place. I’m gonna start a coffee shop someday.”
Fast forward to present day, and there are now 5 brick and mortar shops, a roastery, and a mobile coffee business! After that pivotal moment in Saradora's, Brian didn't immediately start working in coffee. It took some time and several other jobs before his dream started to become a reality. Some long shifts at a warehouse job jump started the appeal of a solid cup of coffee in the early mornings. He then spent some time working in a second-wave coffee job, learning what he could. The dream persisted, some more time passed, and eventually, some friends invested into his dream by way of a loan to open a coffee kiosk in downtown Austin. He called it Brian’s Brew. It was here that he really learned to fine tune his craft and passion.
Coffee has a way of bonding people together, which can lead to long-lasting, meaningful relationships, and that is what the vision was committed to. One year turned to five, and a regular took notice of Brian’s passion for coffee and his ease with people. He wanted to help the business expand, and Brian excitedly agreed. A brick and mortar location was found, and the process of building began. On July 14th 2015, Brian opened the location in Round Rock and changed the name to Lamppost Coffee. His dream had finally become a reality. The change in name came from the lasting impression that Saradora's had on Brian, which was that it made him feel at home. He wanted that same sense of belonging to be present in his shop, and the inspiration he pulled from was a book series that had deeply shaped his imagination. The tale of The Chronicles of Narnia had a huge influence in his life, with the images of the lion and lamppost taking forefront. In those stories, the lamppost serves as a representation of a guiding light, an illuminating marker for the way home.
Brian’s hope for the future of Lamppost is excellence in coffee and excellence in community. He wants that sense of home to continue and is proud that Lamppost has continued to carry it. The story of Lamppost started as a dream of a teenage boy impacted by a stranger’s kindness and continues today as a beacon of light, a home for strangers to connect.
