{"id":320804,"date":"2026-05-18T04:27:41","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T04:27:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/320804\/"},"modified":"2026-05-18T04:27:41","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T04:27:41","slug":"long-beach-coffee-shop-honoring-woman-killed-by-dui-driver-celebrates-grand-opening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/320804\/","title":{"rendered":"Long Beach coffee shop honoring woman killed by DUI driver celebrates grand opening"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Reinne\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Despite the tragedy, Le continued pursuing a dream the couple once shared: opening a coffee shop together.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">For the past year, Reinne\u2019s Place has operated as a pop-up inside Open Gallery in Long Beach. Saturday\u2019s event marked the official opening of the shop\u2019s permanent storefront along Retro Row.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/articles\/southern-california-man-opens-coffee-075151058.html\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:KTLA previously reported;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;KTLA previously reported&quot;}\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">KTLA previously reported<\/a> that Le, a former barista, created the shop not only as a business, but as a place for reflection, healing and community.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"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)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/74f99810d51552b9a193ca162da1677d.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Tommy Le speaks with KTLA as customers enjoy drinks at Reinne\u2019s Place, a coffee shop dedicated to Le\u2019s late girlfriend, Reinne Lim. (KTLA)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Tommy Le and Reinne Lim are seen in a personal photo.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/049d8212715ee1d667ef7ea6c4f7f94c.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Tommy Le and Reinne Lim are seen in a personal photo.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Reinne Lim is seen in a personal photo.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/434e12743fac617d18902322e34142b6.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Reinne Lim is seen in a personal photo.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Reinne's Place is a coffee shop in Long Beach serving classic coffee and drinks that feature Vietnamese and Filipino ingredients. (KTLA)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/9314b8347582c9fd3b43c90d1562c23a.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Reinne\u2019s Place is a coffee shop in Long Beach serving classic coffee and drinks that feature Vietnamese and Filipino ingredients. (KTLA)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Reinne Lim and Tommy Le were struck by a wrong-way drunk driver on the freeway on Oct. 2, 2022. (OnScene.TV)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/762d6d68ef292ee23fb3ca1ad27deca1.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Reinne Lim and Tommy Le were struck by a wrong-way drunk driver on the freeway on Oct. 2, 2022. (OnScene.TV)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Reinne Lim and Tommy Le were struck by a wrong-way drunk driver on the freeway on Oct. 2, 2022. (OnScene.TV)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/748b935302cc4e83eea58c52a5621f60.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Reinne Lim and Tommy Le were struck by a wrong-way drunk driver on the freeway on Oct. 2, 2022. (OnScene.TV)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Tommy Le was in critical condition after the crash and spent a long and difficult road to recovery. (Tommy Le)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/69d0d8ecd099c34409e98202e0a8fc3a.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Tommy Le was in critical condition after the crash and spent a long and difficult road to recovery. (Tommy Le)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Tommy Le and Reinne Lim are seen in a personal photo.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/916284a0021a8019767f4c35498a1f6d.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Tommy Le and Reinne Lim are seen in a personal photo.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Reinne's Place is a coffee shop in Long Beach serving classic coffee and drinks that feature Vietnamese and Filipino ingredients. (KTLA)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0d9a1a86ed5b24b056888ce9acbc64fc.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Reinne\u2019s Place is a coffee shop in Long Beach serving classic coffee and drinks that feature Vietnamese and Filipino ingredients. (KTLA)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Customers gather at Reinne's Place, a coffee shop in Long Beach serving classic coffee and drinks that feature Vietnamese and Filipino ingredients. (KTLA)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0f2423ee6d42cb822968af5655a6318b.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Customers gather at Reinne\u2019s Place, a coffee shop in Long Beach serving classic coffee and drinks that feature Vietnamese and Filipino ingredients. (KTLA)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Reinne's Place is a coffee shop in Long Beach serving classic coffee and drinks that feature Vietnamese and Filipino ingredients. (KTLA)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/f71a6380b1c648dfa772c6b079d9d25e.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Reinne\u2019s Place is a coffee shop in Long Beach serving classic coffee and drinks that feature Vietnamese and Filipino ingredients. (KTLA)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Customers gather at Reinne's Place, a coffee shop in Long Beach serving classic coffee and drinks that feature Vietnamese and Filipino ingredients. (KTLA)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/6d974c52c7b6b911eba6d640d7f0b198.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Customers gather at Reinne\u2019s Place, a coffee shop in Long Beach serving classic coffee and drinks that feature Vietnamese and Filipino ingredients. (KTLA)<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cShe always wanted me to pursue my dream of opening up a coffee shop,\u201d Le told KTLA in December.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The menu blends classic coffee offerings with Vietnamese and Filipino-inspired flavors, honoring both Le\u2019s and Lim\u2019s heritage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The shop also features a wall of handwritten notes called \u201cReinne Checks,\u201d where customers can leave messages dedicated to loved ones they\u2019ve lost or wish to remember.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWhen I shared my loss, we were able to have so many people come in here, day after day, and they don\u2019t even know me, but they love what I\u2019m doing and it kind of shows that there is light at the end of the tunnel,\u201d Le previously told KTLA.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Organizers said the grand opening celebration began Saturday at 9 a.m., with community members gathering to support the shop and its mission.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ktla.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.&quot;}\" class=\"link \"> For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A Long Beach man who turned grief into a community gathering space officially opened the permanent location of&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":320805,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[16221,4407,131,133,132,84837,84832],"class_list":["post-320804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-long-beach","tag-coffee","tag-ktla","tag-long-beach","tag-long-beach-headlines","tag-long-beach-news","tag-reinne-lim","tag-tommy-le"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/320804","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=320804"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/320804\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/320805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=320804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=320804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=320804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}