Assembly Park’s Cliff Coffee is all southwestern vibes. To the left, a cactus sculpture. To the right, a mural of a cowboy standing on a horse. All around, sandy tones and stone-like textures emulate the New Mexico landscape.
“Natural, variegated textures are key to successful execution of a desert aesthetic. The Cliff ceiling was troweled by a local plaster installer. We went through many test runs getting the right color and texture,” says Sara Barnes of Agent Architecture, who designed the space. “The clay tilework on the walls has that imperfect variation to it, which is just so wonderful and character-giving. People are tired of being in manufactured, cookie-cutter spaces. This coffee shop design really decries that, which is part of why it feels so good.”
Cliff Coffee might be New Mexican themed, but the shop is a conglomeration of local faves. Ice cream from Tongue in Cheek in Richardson. Drinks made with Lemma Roasters coffee in Lewisville. Bear Naked Honey made in Allen. Mill-King dairy from Waco.
A menu highlight? The Tumbleweed is a brown sugar caramel shaken espresso over milk ($6.50). Or, if you like it on the spicy side, the Mexican Stand-off is a caramel, vanilla and cinnamon latte with cayenne pepper ($6.50).
Though rocking with a theme, the Agent team was intentional about ensuring each choice for the space felt designed, not gimmicky.
“It goes back to intentionality and ensuring that the human experience drives the theme more than the theme drives the experience. We spend time visualizing, imagining what it is like to be in the space — going beyond hanging tchotchkes on the wall and calling it good — using lighting, materials and forms to thoughtfully envelop visitors in a specific experience,” Barnes says. “Our goal for every project is that people feel restored from being in spaces we’ve designed. This goal works in tandem with the specific design direction for a project and helps to expand our vision beyond just theme or aesthetics.”
Some features are more hidden. Along the south wall is a circular window with LED bars to each side, a subtle nod to the New Mexican flag.
“Both the operator and one of our team members are from New Mexico, so New Mexico was always at the heart of the design,” she says. “This lighting detail was a fun nod to celebrate that heritage. We like to think of it as a little New Mexican outpost right here in Plano.”
Cliff Coffee serves as a sharp contrast to its brightly themed Tex-Mex and industrially decorated brewery neighbors.
Part of three conjoined Blender Brands’ concepts — Cliff Coffee, Assembly Ice House and Tacoro Tacos & Tequila — the shop is themed after co-owner Jacob Cox’s home state of New Mexico.
“[Blender Brands] partnered with the developers here … trying to bring a breath of fresh air to East Plano,” Cliff Coffee partner Griffin Garvey says.
“There was an opportunity here to provide something new for this part of Plano — a place with an intentional interior design that keeps you coming back as much as the coffee and ice cream do,” Barnes says. “The operator’s initial inspiration was America’s desert Southwest, due to [Cox’s] time growing up there. We delved in to craft something that felt authentic, relaxing, and hopefully, unexpected.”
To finish off the southwest vibe, a mural by Michael McPheeters, founder of Mr. Mural, features a cowboy standing on his horse. McPheeters completed murals for all three concepts, highlighting each theme and adding his own personal twist.
“Reception has been overwhelmingly positive,” McPheeters says. “Hearing how it sparks conversation and brings people together has been the most rewarding part.”
Cliff Coffee, 6185 Assembly Park Blvd., 469.298.0032
