Staycation Is Moving Out, But Only Three Minutes Away

So many coffee shops try to feel like a home. They’ll tout community and comfortable couches. Some do a good job, but few do better than Staycation.

Owner Nicole Gregory has built a genuine institution in the heart of downtown Richardson. It’s housed inside a refurbished 1940s home, with a living room style set up in the shop’s foyer and an Americana, picturesque backyard, complete with hammocks, games and a year-round cast of families enjoying the Texas weather.

The shop is always busy, yet never to a fault. Unlike other spots, it feels like the more people at Staycation the better, as if that’s sort of the thesis of the whole operation.

Despite this, Gregory recently announced unfortunate news that put the future of her shop in question.
“Our location here in downtown has been chosen for an apartment development,” she says. “Though we have differing views on the value of this development, we are doing our best to work with these plans and find a home that allows us to stay close to where we are currently.”

Gregory’s lease for the current location runs through September. With no intention of closing the shop altogether, she’s been on the lookout for a new space.

There would seem to be two major priorities when it comes to a new Staycation: keeping it in Richardson to maintain the customer base and finding a new spot that replicates the comfortable, homestyle feel.

An opportunity fell into Gregory’s lap. She heard from Merrick Porcheddu, who runs Artist Uprising photography studio out of a small space just three minutes away from Staycation. Porcheddu was planning to move out of the space, which was built in 1958 and operated as an auto service shop for many years. There are two big garage doors in front with a small yard in the back, perfect for Staycation’s aesthetic.

“When I saw it and saw the yard and the unique design elements in the interior,” Gregory says. “I knew that this was the one I wanted to go for. The natural light that fills the space at any given time throughout the day is absolutely stunning.”

But of course, with a small business comes the many small details owners are forced to handle. Among them rezoning the space to be a restaurant and approving modifications to the backyard. Last week, Gregory went to a city planning commission meeting to make her requests, but she wasn’t alone.

“A large group of our regulars showed up,” she says. “I was moved to tears as many of them got up to share what Staycation is and means to them.”

Perhaps in part due to the community support, all her plans were approved and the shop is set to officially move into the new space this fall.

“As a business owner, oftentimes you get so snowed under the daily grind of work that you lose sight of what the work means to the community,” Gregory says. “To be reminded of it and to feel such incredible support was absolutely moving.”

We’re happy that Staycation will still be around, but we’ll miss the feeling of that iconic home location. Until then, we have one more summer to spend in the hammocks, playing cornhole or making new friends.

Coffee tip: get the lavender latte, hot or iced. It’s one of the best in North Texas.

Staycation, 201 S Texas St., Richardson, TX, Monday, Closed; Tuesday 7 a.m. - 12 p.m.; Wednesday - Friday 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. -  2 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.