The scent of fresh coffee drifts through the air at 806 Coffee + Lounge, mingling with aromas of vegetarian and vegan dishes made with quality ingredients.
Sunlight slants across the walls, each one lined with art by local creators — paintings, photographs, and mixed-media pieces that change with the seasons. Customers lean over mismatched tables, talking, reading, or playing board games pulled from a shelf. In the background, the low hum of conversation mixes with the hiss of steaming milk.
It’s a scene Jason Barrett imagined back in 2007, when Sixth Street was quieter and the building he purchased was still a dusty former antique store. “People told me I was crazy to open here,” Barrett said. “But if no one takes a chance, nothing changes.”
He spent nearly a year gutting and rebuilding the space — adding a coffee bar, hanging panels for rotating art displays, and building a stage for live music. Sixth Street at the time was mostly antique shops, with little of the food and entertainment mix it has today.
“We wanted to be more than a coffee shop,” Barrett said. “We wanted to be a place where artists, musicians, and community members could come together.”
From customer to co-owner
Courtney Brown first walked through the 806’s doors as a teenager, drawn to its open mics and alternative energy. “I was going to the open mics when I was 17, dealing with Jason’s little snarky attitude,” she said with a laugh. “It was the cool place in Amarillo — different, progressive, fearless. It gave me a chance to grow, get involved in my community, and stand up for our rights.”
Her coffee career began at Hastings, followed by a short stint at Starbucks. “I survived two months at Starbucks before I was rescued by the 806,” she said. Brown started as a barista, became manager, and about eight years ago, co-owner. “Here, I found my home, my people, and my community.”
Barrett says their partnership works because of balance. “I can be all over the place, and she’s more grounded. We complement each other.”
Route 66 cultural hub offers mix of menu favorites and evolving tastes
Over 18 years, the 806 has become part coffeehouse, part community living room, and part cultural launchpad. Weekly shows bring in local and traveling musicians, and the open mics — Amarillo’s longest-running — have served as a starting point for countless local performers and artists. The rotating art displays highlight regional talent, giving creators a space to be seen without the barriers of formal galleries.
“We’ve been about real art from the beginning — the kind artists want to make and people want to experience,” Barrett said.
Brown adds, “We want people to feel welcome, to be themselves, and to leave feeling inspired or seen. If we’ve done that, we’ve done our job.”
That inclusive culture extends to the staff. “Working at the 806 has been a wonderful experience for many reasons,” said employee Chance Daily. “It truly feels like working with family. Everything from music, to art, to political activism takes place under the guise of an unassuming Sixth Street coffee shop. Safe spaces may be few and far between in Amarillo, but the 806 is certainly one of them — and that sense of safety and community extends far beyond its walls.”
The drinks menu is as eclectic as the art on the walls. From traditional lattes and cappuccinos to creative blends, there’s always something new. Brown’s citrus-and-tea creation, the Witch Doctor, has become so popular that other coffee shops have copied it.
The food menu leans vegetarian and vegan, with hearty sandwiches, wraps, and breakfast offerings — all made with quality ingredients. Beer, wine, and cocktails round out the options, alongside daily specials like brunch on weekends and happy hours for both coffee and alcohol.
Giving back through various events and organizations
Barrett and Brown also use the shop as a base for community activism and neighborhood support. They co-founded the San Jac Coalition, which organizes events including:
Brown is also co-founder of the Amarillo Reproductive Freedom Alliance, using the 806 as a meeting space and resource hub for advocacy work.
An 18th birthday with purpose
This year’s anniversary fundraiser is Aug. 23-24, with brunch, live music, raffles, drink specials, and the annual limited-edition T-shirt sale. Proceeds will go toward buying school supplies for San Jacinto Elementary.
“When kids move in mid-year, they often don’t have supplies,” Barrett said. “We buy exactly what the school needs, in bulk, so every dollar goes further. Ten dollars from a donor can turn into a case of notebooks or basketballs for the gym.”
Eighteen years after 806’s opening, Sixth Street has transformed from a row of antique stores into a blend of restaurants, bookstores, game shops, and music venues. Inside the 806, the eclectic atmosphere remains — a mix of art, music, activism, and coffee. Many customers say it’s that welcoming, inclusive feel that keeps them coming back.
For Barrett, the goal hasn’t changed. “When people come in, I want them to feel like they’re part of something,” he said. “This isn’t just a shop — it’s their space too.”
Brown agrees. “I hope people walk out feeling like they found something here they can’t get anywhere else — a spark, a connection, a sense of belonging. That’s what this place has always been about, and that’s what it will keep being.”
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: 806 Coffee + Lounge celebrates 18 years of coffee, art and community
Reporting by Michael Cuviello, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
