JJ’s Cafe is expanding to a second location with a full bar and dinner service in Garland this fall.
JJ’s Cafe. (Photo by Kathy Tran)
Jose Ramirez has operated the business since 2010, when he purchased Divine Coffee Shop in Northlake Center and rebranded it as JJ’s Cafe. He says he’s been looking to expand “the last couple of years” and finally chose to act when a 3,600 square foot space opened up about five minutes south of Garland.
The space previously housed a taqueria. Inside, Ramirez and his team will churn out the same American breakfast and Mexican brunch menu that has been a fixture of neighborhood a.m. routines for over a decade.
“I have a great team at JJ’s Lake Highlands, and I’m ready to move and expand because I have great employees and I have great support from the community,” Ramirez recently told the Advocate.
One notable change, however, comes as dinner service will be added to the offering at the JJ’s Garland location. Ramirez says that Cajun boils (gloves and bibs included) will be offered alongside a seafood-heavy Mexican dinner menu. Chilaqueles, long a house specialty at the Lake Highlands location, will be offered all day long in Garland as well.
Ramirez also says the new JJ’s will feature a full bar serving classics like margaritas and palomas. Another area of focus will also be mimosa offerings served with lunch.
He plans to open the new location sometime in late November. Lake Highlands neighbors may be glad to hear that while Ramirez’s business has evolved, he says he has no plans to leave where it all started anytime soon.
“I love Lake Highlands. Customers have really taken care of me these last 15 years. So I’ve been in Lake Highlands, Lakewood, all the neighborhoods have really supported me over the years, and I’m very happy there. Definitely just an expansion.”