Driving along Sycamore Street, there sits a forest-green building, surrounded by trees and accompanied by the scent of fresh coffee. Approaching the inside, I was met with warm string lights, an atmosphere of quiet conversation, and local artists’ work displayed across the walls. The ceilings stretched tall, full of natural light, and a pair of girls were chatting with the barista like old friends. Before I could even sit down, co-owner Diego Perez offered me a coffee – “Anything you want”, he said – noting to myself I was already being welcomed into this special place.
Since its opening on June 14th, Sicarú Coffee Roasters, located at 716 W Sycamore St. in Fayetteville, has quickly become more than just a new café added to Fayetteville’s competitive scene – it’s a third space, community hub, and symbol of its founders’ longstanding friendship and culture. Owned by a team of two couples, Diego and his wife Kerri, and their best friends David and Lily Jo, the space is infused with care in each corner. Their friendship began over a decade ago in northern Mexico, where Diego and David first met. “Life progressed. We both met our wives, got married, and eventually decided we wanted to still work together.” Diego remarked. He shared they were at a bar one night, discussing a dream that was years down the road, saying to each other, “What if?”. After separately deciding they wanted to move to Fayetteville 3 years ago, that “what if” was now presented as an opportunity. “Once the opportunity came up, we realized it could be something fun — something ours,” He said.
That “something” became Sicarú, the name meaning “beautiful” in an Indigenous language from Mexico. Using this term reflects not only the heart behind the business, but also the intention. “What we can create and all do together is what we call beautiful,” Diego said. From the support of local small businesses to the food and drinks that subtly honor Diego’s roots, it is clear to see that Sicarú is a celebration of shared community and culture.
While the beans currently come from Costa Rica, Diego shared his hopes to one day source them from Mexico, supporting their farms. In the meantime, his story is infused through drinks like the Florencia, a latte similar to a mocha but made with his grandmother’s personal cacao recipe. Named after his grandmother, it’s a mix of cacao, cinnamon, almonds, and sugar to make something “different than your regular mocha”, Diego states. “It’s one of those subtle ways again that I can introduce my culture, while still making it new and enjoyable.” Another fan favorite is the housemade horchata cold brew, made nightly by toasting rice, cinnamon, and oatmilk to create an inclusive and delicious drink.
Anyone can make coffee, but it’s what is outside of the cup that makes all the difference. As a collaborative place built on connection, more is offered than what is just on the menu. “We wanted this to be a space where all are welcomed, and where people feel it’s meant for them,” Diego explained. This ties into their options of coworking, offering unlimited Wi-Fi and drip coffee. As an event space, they have held live music events, art and vendor markets, and private fundraising gatherings. The only rule for hosting? No hate of any kind. “It surprisingly filters out more people than you would think,” He admitted, “but it helps us stay true to the kind of space we want to be.”
Just this past weekend, Sicarú partnered with @lambkinqueermarket to host a local vendor day, moving the furniture aside as customers could sip on coffee and shop. Events such as these are in the vein of this team’s mission: “I find the more you know about someone else’s culture and life, the more open and welcoming you will become,” Diego said. “It opens a whole new window of opportunity.”
Even with the rush of opening a new business and raising a newborn son, Diego said the experience and community response have been rewarding. “It is hard, but we’re really lucky to have a good support system. Some of my favorite moments are seeing people sit at the big table and bond over an interaction. I’ve made some good friends that way as well.”
Sicarú may still be finding its footing, but it is clear to see that they are committed to making a change and uplifting Fayetteville’s community. The team is working on flyers and a website, but for now, they stated that the @sicarucoffeeroasters Instagram (run by Lily Jo) is the best way to get in touch or host an event.
When I asked Diego if he had any final thoughts he hoped readers would take away from the article, he said simply: “I want people to feel like this place is theirs. That they are welcome. I always like to say Come for our coffee, but stay for the people.”
Ryanne FitzGerald
Contributor
Ryanne FitzGerald is pursuing her Advertising and Public Relations degree at The University of Arkansas, and is a new Star Shopper intern. From her bio:
I ultimately set out to study advertising and public relations because I enjoyed how it mixed business with creativity, and I knew if I did not end up in a field in which I’m passionate that I would be sure to burn out. I have always been a creative person, and I would even go as far as to say it is the overarching quality of me that bleeds into everything I do. It is not limited to any form, whether its music, dance, fashion, painting, cinematography, poetry, crafting or more, I will be drawn to it. This is what pulled me to advertising in the first place, as I found old commercial jingles growing up took more precedence in my mind than learning about times tables during my formative years. I am a firm believer in everything being art, down to the lines created by a trail of ants or the way littered trash mimics wildflowers.
