A Long Beach man who turned grief into a community gathering space officially opened the permanent location of his coffee shop Saturday, years after losing his girlfriend in a wrong-way DUI crash.
Reinne’s Place, founded by Tommy Le as a tribute to his late girlfriend, Reinne Lim, celebrated its grand opening Saturday morning at 3904 E. 4th St. in Long Beach.
Le and Lim, both 22 at the time, were involved in a devastating crash on the 5 Freeway in Orange County on Oct. 2, 2022, when a wrong-way drunk driver struck their vehicle head-on. Lim was killed in the crash, while Le survived after spending more than a week in the ICU and undergoing multiple surgeries.
Despite the tragedy, Le continued pursuing a dream the couple once shared: opening a coffee shop together.
For the past year, Reinne’s Place has operated as a pop-up inside Open Gallery in Long Beach. Saturday’s event marked the official opening of the shop’s permanent storefront along Retro Row.
KTLA previously reported that Le, a former barista, created the shop not only as a business, but as a place for reflection, healing and community.
Tommy Le speaks with KTLA as customers enjoy drinks at Reinne’s Place, a coffee shop dedicated to Le’s late girlfriend, Reinne Lim. (KTLA)
Tommy Le and Reinne Lim are seen in a personal photo.
Reinne Lim is seen in a personal photo.
Reinne’s Place is a coffee shop in Long Beach serving classic coffee and drinks that feature Vietnamese and Filipino ingredients. (KTLA)
Reinne Lim and Tommy Le were struck by a wrong-way drunk driver on the freeway on Oct. 2, 2022. (OnScene.TV)
Reinne Lim and Tommy Le were struck by a wrong-way drunk driver on the freeway on Oct. 2, 2022. (OnScene.TV)
Tommy Le was in critical condition after the crash and spent a long and difficult road to recovery. (Tommy Le)
Tommy Le and Reinne Lim are seen in a personal photo.
Reinne’s Place is a coffee shop in Long Beach serving classic coffee and drinks that feature Vietnamese and Filipino ingredients. (KTLA)
Customers gather at Reinne’s Place, a coffee shop in Long Beach serving classic coffee and drinks that feature Vietnamese and Filipino ingredients. (KTLA)
Reinne’s Place is a coffee shop in Long Beach serving classic coffee and drinks that feature Vietnamese and Filipino ingredients. (KTLA)
Customers gather at Reinne’s Place, a coffee shop in Long Beach serving classic coffee and drinks that feature Vietnamese and Filipino ingredients. (KTLA)
“She always wanted me to pursue my dream of opening up a coffee shop,” Le told KTLA in December.
The menu blends classic coffee offerings with Vietnamese and Filipino-inspired flavors, honoring both Le’s and Lim’s heritage.
The shop also features a wall of handwritten notes called “Reinne Checks,” where customers can leave messages dedicated to loved ones they’ve lost or wish to remember.
“When I shared my loss, we were able to have so many people come in here, day after day, and they don’t even know me, but they love what I’m doing and it kind of shows that there is light at the end of the tunnel,” Le previously told KTLA.
Organizers said the grand opening celebration began Saturday at 9 a.m., with community members gathering to support the shop and its mission.
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