Empire Roasters & Records

"Empire might seem like it’s just a coffee shop inside of a narrow renovated garage, but it’s so much more than that: they have a lounge and record shop upstairs, a serene rooftop patio up some more stairs, and serve made-to-order belgian waffles. Wash it all down with a homemade date-sweetened cashew milk latte." - aimee rizzo

"Empire seems like it’s just a coffee shop inside of a narrow renovated garage. But it’s actually much more than that—they serve some excellent food that’s way better than refrigerated breakfast burritos and sad muesli bowls. We are very big fans of their made-to-order belgian waffles, whether they’re topped with blueberries and powdered sugar or maple syrup and butter. You should order one of these and a homemade date-sweetened cashew milk latte at this Columbia City coffee shop. And if you’re in need of a gluten-free and/or vegan waffle, they serve those, too." - Aimee Rizzo

"Empire might seem like it’s just a Columbia City coffee shop inside of a narrow renovated garage, but it’s so much more: they have a lounge and record shop upstairs, a virtually silent rooftop patio up some more stairs, and standout coffee that pairs well with both their homemade date cashew milk and shopping for vinyl. We’re also big fans of their made-to-order belgian waffles." - aimee rizzo, gabe guarente

"If you really want nobody to find you, the only option is the excessively secluded rooftop at Empire, a coffee shop in Columbia City. Just grab a cold brew with homemade date cashew milk and climb up three flights of stairs—past the record store and the restroom with the galaxy cat shower curtain. At the very top is a small patio with a great breeze, fast WiFi, and complete silence. That is, besides bird chirps, fire truck sirens, and ice cubes clanking around in the cup." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley

"If you really want some peace and quiet, the only option is the very secret rooftop at Empire in Columbia City. All you have to do is grab a cold brew with homemade date cashew milk and head up three flights of stairs—past the record store and the restroom with the galaxy cat shower curtain. At the very top, you'll find a small patio with a great breeze, fast WiFi, and complete silence. That is, besides bird chirps, fire truck sirens, and ice cubes clanking around in your cup." - aimee rizzo