From Monthly Markets to a Downtown Destination: Vintage & Coffee Celebrates One Year in El Centro

What started as a once-a-month vintage market has become a growing destination in Downtown El Centro, where carefully selected vintage pieces share space with specialty coffee and community gatherings.

On October 8, 2026, Vintage & Coffee celebrated its first anniversary at its permanent storefront with an official ribbon cutting ceremony facilitated by the Imperial Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce (IVRCC).

For founders Julian Yocupicio and Elizabeth Espinoza, the celebration marked more than one year of operating a storefront. It represented the culmination of several years spent testing an idea, building relationships with customers, and creating a business rooted in their appreciation for vintage culture, thoughtful design, and hospitality.

A Business That Began with a Monthly Market

Vintage & Coffee's story began in 2023 with a monthly market at the American Legion. From the beginning, the founders envisioned eventually developing the concept into a brick-and-mortar business. Those early markets provided an opportunity to introduce the idea to the community, understand customer interests, and establish relationships that would help shape the future storefront.

In 2024, the business moved into the space that would eventually become its permanent home. The following year, Vintage & Coffee officially opened its doors in Downtown El Centro. What began as a monthly gathering had evolved into a place where customers could browse vintage collections, enjoy a beverage, attend events, or simply spend time together. The anniversary celebrates that progression and the community support that helped make it possible.

More Than a Vintage Shop or Coffee Bar

Located at 719 W. Main Street, Vintage & Coffee combines curated vintage retail with a specialty beverage program. Its retail collection includes vintage clothing, accessories, décor, and one-of-a-kind finds. Alongside the merchandise, customers can enjoy espresso, matcha, and cacao beverages prepared with an emphasis on consistency and quality.

The business uses a Rocket Appartamento espresso machine manufactured in Italy. Its coffee is grown, picked, and roasted in Hawai‘i, while its matcha is sourced from Japan and cacao from the Netherlands.

Even the names of its beverages reflect the store's identity, drawing inspiration from vintage objects, materials, and terminology. The storefront's design also plays an important role in the experience. One distinctive feature is its fresh-flower wall, which introduces an ever-changing natural element into a space filled with objects that already carry their own histories.

Beyond daily retail and beverage service, Vintage & Coffee offers opportunities to reserve its space for intimate gatherings, meetings, celebrations, and creative events.

The founders are also developing bottled beverages and co-branded offerings that could extend the business into additional events and community experiences.

Building a Business Around Connection

For Vintage & Coffee, the goal has never been limited to selling products.

The business is guided by a commitment to quality, creativity, consistency, hospitality, and connection. Its founders believe that the details behind each beverage, vintage selection, and customer interaction contribute to the overall experience.

One philosophy they shared captures the spirit of their business:

"To honor what already has a story while creating space for new stories to begin."

That approach is reflected in the activities and partnerships that have developed around the storefront. Vintage & Coffee collaborates with Motivated Run Club, bringing people together through movement and wellness while introducing participants to other local businesses.

The shop also hosts a recurring book club with Soroptimist, creating opportunities for conversations centered on self-empowerment and personal growth.

Additional collaborations, including work with Rose Celebration Company, have helped incorporate fresh flowers into the business's space and special occasions.

These relationships demonstrate how an independent business can become part of a broader network of community activity.

Recognition and Milestones Along the Way

Although its storefront has only completed its first year, Vintage & Coffee has already experienced several notable milestones. Before officially opening its permanent location, the business was highlighted alongside other Imperial Valley businesses in Travel + Leisure's 2025 America's Best Small Towns coverage. In 2026, Vintage & Coffee received the Best New Business recognition through the Imperial Valley Press Readers' Choice Awards.

The business was also selected by National Day Calendar in connection with National Vintage Day, providing an opportunity to celebrate vintage culture with a wider audience.

For the founders, however, some of their most meaningful achievements have happened beyond formal recognition.

They point to creating local employment and internship opportunities, developing relationships with returning customers, collaborating with fellow entrepreneurs, and watching their storefront become a place where people gather.

These accomplishments reflect the role that locally developed businesses can play in creating economic opportunities while adding to the character of Downtown El Centro.

The People Behind Vintage & Coffee

Founders Julian Yocupicio and Elizabeth Espinoza credit the continued development of Vintage & Coffee to the different strengths and perspectives they bring to the business, as well as the contributions of their growing team.

Current team members include Emily Lopez, Yoshi Medina, and Celeste Gonzalez, along with interns Miriam and Michelle. The founders also recognize the guidance and encouragement they received from the Small Business Development Center, particularly Viridiana Rosales, throughout their entrepreneurial journey.

They expressed appreciation for their families, mentors, fellow small businesses, collaborators, and the returning customers who have supported Vintage & Coffee from its earliest stages.

The business also acknowledges the Imperial Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce for creating opportunities for businesses to connect, collaborate, and celebrate their achievements.

Looking Ahead to Year Two

As Vintage & Coffee enters its second year, its founders are exploring ways to expand beyond traditional retail and beverage service.

Their vision includes additional social gatherings, private reservations, live music, wellness experiences, creative programming, pop-ups, and collaborations.

They also hope to develop more opportunities for other small businesses, organizations, and local creatives to participate in experiences both inside and outside the storefront.

While the possibilities continue to grow, the business remains focused on the relationships that helped establish its place in the community.

For Julian and Elizabeth, the first anniversary is an opportunity to recognize everyone who has contributed to the journey, from the earliest market customers to the people who continue returning to the shop today.

Celebrating Local Business Growth

The Imperial Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce congratulates Vintage & Coffee on its first year in Downtown El Centro and recognizes the dedication behind transforming an entrepreneurial concept into a growing local business.

Through ribbon cutting ceremonies and other membership resources, IVRCC works to recognize business milestones, increase visibility for local enterprises, and encourage connections that strengthen the regional economy.

Vintage & Coffee's journey illustrates how a small business idea can grow through persistence, community participation, and collaboration.

Visit Vintage & Coffee

719 W. Main St.El Centro, CA 92243

Explore its vintage collection, discover its specialty beverages, and support a business continuing to contribute to the Downtown El Centro community.

Celebrating a Business Milestone?

IVRCC facilitates ribbon cutting ceremonies for eligible Chamber members celebrating grand openings, expansions, relocations, anniversaries, and other special milestones.

These ceremonies help businesses share important developments with the community while creating additional visibility around their investment and growth in the Imperial Valley.

Businesses interested in scheduling a ribbon cutting can contact IVRCC at (760) 352-7413 to learn more about this membership benefit.