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Espressoul Cafe to Host its ‘Grounded Opening’ on Wilmot Road

Baklava Latte at Espressoul Café (Photo by Mark Whittaker)

Espressoul Cafe to Host its ‘Grounded Opening’ on Wilmot Road

May 8, 20252 min read

After years of brewing soulful drinks on wheels, Espressoul Café is ready to plant deeper roots. The local coffee truck is celebrating its first brick-and-mortar location with a “grounded” opening on Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11 at 1525 N. Wilmot Rd.

They’ll be open each day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with live music from a harpist on Saturday and a live vocalist on Sunday.

The following was shared about the opening:

“Come as you are and let your soul softly land. This beginning was never meant to be rushed. We’re opening our doors slowly and intentionally with hopes that your wait will be gentle, and your experience heartfelt. We’re still becoming, and we’d be honored to have you be a part of it.”

The new space marks a major milestone for owner Eris Movahedi and her partner, Derek South. What began as a mobile café operating out of a hand-painted U-Haul has evolved into a full-fledged community hub — one steeped in resilience, creativity, and heart.

Espressoul’s first stationary home is tucked into a building that once housed Zeal Patisserie, a gluten-free bakery. While that chapter closed during the pandemic, Movahedi sees this next phase as a continuation of the spirit the space once held.

“We’re excited to build on that legacy and create a place where the community can gather and feel connected once again,” said Movahedi, who won eWomenNetwork’s “Emerging Woman Leader of the Year” award in 2023. 

Inside the café, the design brings together elements of Persian tradition and modern bohemian charm with warm earth tones, hand-painted accents, and greenery. Outside, patio seating offers a sunny spot to unwind and connect.

Folks can expect a growing lineup of espresso drinks, matcha creations, smoothies, and new in-house items developed in collaboration with local businesses.

Also, this isn’t the end of the mobile café. They still plan to pop up in Tucson and the surrounding area.

“Knowing that we’re creating something special and inclusive for everyone just adds to the excitement,” said Movahedi. “I can’t wait to share this next chapter with all of you.”

The new Espressoul Café is located at 1525 N. Wilmot Rd. For more information and to keep up with the grand opening, new drinks, and more, follow Espressoul Café on Instagram and Facebook.

Article written by:

Matt Sterner

Matt Sterner

More about Matt

At a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.

He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.

If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.

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