The wait is over. In less than 24 hours, Rhino Coffee‘s downtown location will be open to the public for the very first time.

We were the first to break the news of Rhino’s impending downtown location back in 2014 as one of several businesses that will occupy the public floors of the new Lofts at 624, which are also expecting to welcome their first tenants in the coming months.



To that end, tomorrow, Wednesday, November 2nd, Shreveport Downtown Development Authority will host its third Downtown Artwalk, a program meant to highlight downtown businesses, featuring artists, food and drink – and Rhino is on the list.

We spoke to Andrew Crawford, Rhino’s owner, who confirmed that tomorrow’s preview will be from 6pm to 9pm and expects to open full time a few days after that with all-day service from 7am to 10pm.

Rhino has covertly been downtown for some time now, roasting its beans in a nearby shop for its South Highlands location, but will now be joined by its public-facing storefront at 624 Texas Street, across from the Robinson Film Center.

This stretch of downtown has been growing steadily since Artspace opened in 2004, followed by the Robinson Film Center in 2008, and more recently Crystal Stairs Restaurant, Joseph Guin Salon, Seasons Salon, and Parish Taceaux alongside the long-standing On Time Fashions and Southern University’s downtown campus (which is currently building an expansion).

This stretch, known as West Edge, butts up against the growing Shreveport Common development area which includes the historic Strand Theatre and Shreveport Municipal Auditorium.

With recent announcements of new businesses and residential units across downtown, we are finally reaching a time and place where our city core is poised for an explosion of activity.

If you want to see what’s up with Rhino and a number of other shops and stops, be sure to attend the third Downtown Artwalk tomorrow, Wednesday, November 2nd. Find more details here (http://downtownshreveport.com/downtown-artwalk).