FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ayala Coffee Celebrates Grand Opening of New Filipino Café in Union, New Jersey—Designed by La Union Studio‍

‍Union Township, NJ (December 20, 2024): Ayala Coffee, New Jersey’s first Filipino coffee shop, proudly announces the grand opening of its full-service café in Union, marking a bold new chapter in the beloved brand’s journey from pop-up cart to culinary cornerstone. The café, founded by first-generation Filipino-Americans Trixie Jose and Matthew Reyes, celebrates the richness of Filipino culture through handcrafted coffee drinks, thoughtful design, and a warm, community-centered dining experience.

After years of grassroots growth—from farmers markets to a to-go counter in 2021—Ayala Coffee has officially opened its doors to a vibrant, dine-in café offering Filipino-inspired brunch dishes and pastries. The expanded space is a culmination of vision, resilience, and cultural pride, and was brought to life with the creative partnership of Seattle-based architecture and design firm La Union Studio.

"We wanted a space that felt like home, that reflected our culture in both look and feel," says co-founder Trixie Jose. "La Union Studio brought our vision to life with an aesthetic that’s modern yet rooted in Filipino identity—from chandeliers sourced from Cebu to custom wood detailing that evokes memories of family gatherings in the Philippines."

Known for their culturally rich projects like Hood Famous Café & Bar in Seattle, La Union Studio worked closely with the Ayala team to design a space that’s as inviting as it is meaningful. Blending natural materials, intimate scale, and contemporary flourishes, the café’s interior honors its Filipino roots while offering a fresh, urban hospitality experience that resonates with all communities.

The new café also debuts an expanded food program led by Executive Chef Alex Ruperto and Chef de Cuisine Kaitlyn Manahan, both Culinary Institute of America graduates. Signature offerings include the “spamganisa” breakfast sandwich, ube champorado croissant, and cassava latte—all crafted in-house with care, creativity, and cultural homage.

La Union Studio is proud to have supported Ayala Coffee’s evolution, contributing architectural and interior design expertise to a space that now stands as a beacon for Filipino-American culture in New Jersey. As Ayala Coffee continues to grow, it remains steadfast in its mission: to offer a place where people—Filipino or not—can connect through food, culture, and community.

About La Union Studio‍

Led by founders Sonia-Lynn Abenojor and Sergio Legon-Talamoni, La Union Studio is a full-service, architectural and interior design studio based in Seattle, Washington. Our studio specializes in the tenant improvements of cultural, retail, hospitality, multi-family and custom single family residential projects. Our designs reflect the beautifully diverse identities of our clients - their community - and the broader fabric of the neighborhood. Some of our clients included Phin Vietnamese Coffee, Raised Doughnuts & Cakes, Bahtoh, 20 Oz Tea, Hood Famous Cafe & Bar and Boon Boona Cafe.

For more information on our work & story, go to www.launionstudio.com

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