Quinn Unrein and Carder Mehr opened the new cafe in March inside Urban Collective, a shop co-owned by Unrein’s mother.
“During the pandemic, my mom got into thrifting furniture and home goods and selling them online,” Unrein says. “She opened a storefront in north Phoenix, which moved closer to downtown in October 2024.”
Mehr has worked in coffee for over five years, Unrein explains, noting that he’d dreamed of opening his own cafe. Her mom’s shop, although small, was the perfect fit.
“It’s very cozy,” Unrein says. “We intentionally curate everything in the shop. It feels like you’re in someone’s house drinking coffee.”
Menu favorites include an Earl Grey matcha, ube sweet potato latte, honey cardamom latte and agave cold foam Americano with cocoa powder on top. Indigo Room also offers a rotating selection of pastries.
“I’ve always enjoyed the process of making coffee, learning about it and improving my craft, as well as the community aspect,” says Mehr, who previously worked at Press Coffee and Aftermarket. “It’s been great getting to know our regular customers and seeing new people come in.”
Indigo Room’s location inside Urban Collective is mutually beneficial to both businesses, the owners agree.
“A lot of people who come into Urban Collective don’t know there’s a coffee shop in the store, and some Indigo Room customers don’t know it’s located inside a vintage shop,” Unrein says. “We get some business from Urban Collective and they get some from us, so it’s a very symbiotic relationship.”
Indigo Room also gets customers from its viral TikTok and Instagram posts. As more people discover Indigo Room, the hours have expanded. The shop now serves its creative sips Thursdays through Sundays.
Indigo Room, which is named after the couple's dog, has truly become a family affair. Unrein’s brother contributes to the menu and now works in the shop along with his girlfriend.
“We really enjoy working with family,” Unrein says. “It’s great working in the same space with my mom. It can be tricky having a business within a business, but because it’s my mom, we can have open, honest conversations and work together when we need to compromise and set boundaries.”
In just a few months, Unrein and Mehr have received great feedback about their cozy coffee shop, and Indigo Room’s clientele continues to grow.
“Looking to the future, we want to expand our hours, expand our menu and offer more food options,” Unrein says. “We may open our own shop, although we’ve been more than happy to be housed inside Urban Collective. It’s a really nice experience for us and so rewarding to see our small business grow and become a part of the community.”
