By: Jacqueline Gonzalez Photos by: Rachel Benavides
When Amanda Morrow reflects on what inspired her to create Dwell Coffee Shop in Goliad, Texas, she responds with one simple line: “I like doing what makes my soul shine.” The concept means bringing the happiness she feels doing what she loves to other people. With a love for her town and its rich history, and a desire to make an enjoyable and beautiful place for her community, she set her plan in motion to create Dwell.
Two years ago, when she and her husband moved back to Goliad from Cuero, she decided to sell the clothing boutique she had owned for several years to focus on interior design and helping people create businesses. Her newest venture involved purchasing a home to host a bed and breakfast, but when the owners of Mattie’s Bakery and Café decided to close their doors, Morrow’s friend Aly Hodges, who was employed by Mattie’s, told her about the newly vacant space. Morrow knew it was the perfect place to fulfill her desires of opening a business and working on interior design, while Hodges continued creating her delicious coffees and pastries. With Morrow’s extensive knowledge of running a business, and Hodges’s past experience running a coffee shop with her mother, the two women joined forces to make Goliad’s soul shine through an environment filled with coffee, pastries, and community.
Hodges creates the flavor profiles behind the coffee syrups, which come in a wide range like Toasted Marshmallow and Coconut, Soul Shine, and Mexican Vanilla. Another favorite, the Emerald Isle, is a combination of green mint and white chocolate for a delicious pick-me-up first thing in the morning. Most recently, Hodges added a Lavender syrup that becomes a refreshing favorite when mixed with honey or coconut.
In addition to the selection of coffees, you can also find handcrafted smoothies and sugar-free Italian sodas to make your tastebuds dance. Each flavor is created to bring happiness with every sip. Morrow and Hodges try to focus on clean eating, so they also offer a variety of sugar-free and decaf options, as well.
The store’s name has garnered attention; Morrow explains it stems from the intentions behind opening the coffee shop. “I want to create a comfortable vibe,” she says. “I want this to be a place where people always want to return to, and where they come to meet new people; a place where they come to dwell.” She knew Dwell was the right name after she came across the word multiple times on vision boards she created, and even more so when she heard it in the readings at church for several weeks. Her belief in the power of words worked to her advantage, because now, when people visit the shop, the name becomes a conversation starter, and the vibe she’d hoped for since the beginning becomes a reality every time.
Contact:
131 S Courthouse Square, Goliad, TX 77963
361.405.2000
