well-wishers to the business at 225 W. Robertson in San Benito. (Courtesy photo)
By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
Like coffee and cream, the San Benito community appears to be waking up and responding warmly to business owners Ruben and Nicole Garcia, who were inspired to expand northward to the Resaca City — the result, the creation of The Rose Collective by Southern Rose Coffee.
A year after launching a mobile coffee-catering business, the couple opened a location at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) in Brownsville.
They have hit the ground running with “coffee” and have now set up shop in the heart of San Benito — 225 West Robertson Street.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by San Benito Chamber of Commerce officials, some elected leaders, and city officials was held recently to mark the momentous occasion, and business has since been booming.
The Garcias were joined by family and friends as they cut the ribbon on April 21.
Opening-day staff included Bryanna Aguirre, Janie Garcia, Sarai Garcia, Susie Garcia, and Hunter Welsh.
They are working in San Benito, handling catering services for both small private and large corporate events. They will, of course, continue to operate where it all started — UTRGV.
Theirs is a multifaceted operation with the community in mind, the Garcia duo said.
“Southern Rose Coffee was founded with a deeper purpose—to grow together as a couple while building something meaningful side by side,” Nicole said. “From the beginning, our goal was to create a business that reflects the customer service we believe in and value—warm, genuine, and intentional—while setting a standard for the experience we hope to receive when supporting other local businesses.”
The daily social media posts on Southern Rose Coffee’s Facebook and Instagram pages showcase real-world engagements between the business and its adoring customer base.
May 2 was “National Matcha Day,” you do now. The Garcias told their staff that, to mark this day-long event, matcha drinks would be priced at $5 and paired with a large matcha latte cookie.
This treat was just one of several showcased next to pistachio macarons, “Bruce” chocolate cakes, or Oreo and cheesecake cookies.
The Garcias have hundreds of online posts documenting the live events they have hosted over the past year, and now that they are in San Benito, that number is sure to grow quickly.
“The vision for The Rose Collective goes beyond a traditional coffee shop; it was intentionally designed as a small, intimate gathering space—an environment where community members can host events, celebrate milestones, collaborate, and connect,” Ruben said. “By combining a welcoming coffee bar with a boutique-style event space, The Rose Collective offers something unique to the area.”
This week, at UTRGV in Brownsville, students, despite the warm temperature, were lined up around a building where the couple was set up giving away strawberry matchas.
Their business is located where the monthly Market Days is held — along Robertson Street. This month, Market Days will be on Saturday, May 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s this flagship event that the Garcias are counting on to grow their business as the community becomes familiar with their business model.
Staff will be up and early morning this Saturday, and running a special bundle latte or matcha, personalized Mother’s Day cookie, and a small flower bundle for $15. There will also be a Mother’s Day photo backdrop.
This will be the first time Southern Rose Coffee partakes in this major event that has become a staple in San Benito.
“In addition, the space continues to support local vendors, artists, and small businesses by giving them a platform to share their work and grow alongside us,” Nicole said. “Every detail is designed to feel elevated yet inviting, creating an atmosphere where everyone feels at home.”
According to their website, southernrosecoffeecatering.com, Southern Rose Coffee and The Rose Collective offers in-house event packages. They are as follows: The Rose Room ($300), two-hour minimum; before- and after-set-up included; set up to your vibe, tables and chairs; Pretty and Poured ($525) two-hour minimum, 25 guests, unlimited coffee bar, custom menu, private barista, tables and chairs; Booked & Busy ($850) for three hours, 50 to 75 guests, unlimited coffee bar, custom menu, two baristas, tables and chairs.
Each requires a $100 deposit. The website shows an additional charge for matcha, dirty sodas, and boost sodas.
“We are proud to be part of the San Benito community, and we look forward to continuing to serve, connect, and create—one cup and one gathering at a time,” Ruben said.