Casa Blanca – A Friendly Downtown Augusta Retreat

Casa Blanca Coffee Café is now open in the White’s Building on Broad Street. Closed for over thirty years, the building has been revived and is being renovated into condominiums, shops and offices. Casa Blanca anchors the first floor lobby space. Owner Jai West, who has been in the restaurant business for over thirty years, is excited about locating her new venture in this historic landmark. She not only provides another gathering spot for the downtown crowd but she offers a convenient alternative for the residents of the White’s Building. Prior to opening Casa Blanca, Jai owned another prominent downtown restaurant and bar. A native Augustan, she lived in Portland Oregon for several years where she owned and ran a successful catering business. A brief visit back to Augusta, to cater a friends wedding, convinced her that she wanted to be a part of the downtown renaissance. The rest, as they say, is history.

Jai describes her new café as ‘shabby chic’ with eclectic food for the diverse mix of people she envisions as the regulars of Casa Blanca. When you go there, she wants you to feel as if “you’ve left home and travelled to an exotic place for a mini vacation.” A communal table anchors the middle of the room with the intention of “bringing people together over a cup of coffee.” Her vision is for Casa Blanca to be a “nice cozy welcoming hangout where you can come by yourself and make new friends.” Depending on your mood, you have a choice of seating options. In addition to the main dining area, there is a huge patio where you can sit, sip and people-watch. On the other hand, if privacy is what you seek, there is a quiet room upstairs with plush seating.

During your many future visits to Casa Blanca, you must try the Chicken Curry Salad Sandwich, Mama’s Taco Soup, Chocolate Surprise Pie, and if you really love garlic, the House Wedge Salad with creamy garlic dressing. These tried and true recipes have been Jai’s signature dishes throughout her restaurant career. Coffees, from around the world, will be featured monthly, as well as Jai’s signature “Smart Sips”, fruit juice-based health drinks.

Currently Casa Blanca is open Monday through Saturday for breakfast and lunch. January will bring the addition of a Tapas and Wine Bar, which will be open in the evenings. Every month Casa Blanca will feature local artists in a special alcove of the restaurant appropriately dubbed “Artist’s Corner.” The selected artists will have the opportunity to display their finished works, and sit and chat with friends or customers interested in learning more about them and their creations. Supporting local artists is Jai’s way of giving back to the community, which she is very happy to do. On December 18 at 6:30, Casa Blanca will host a Wine Tasting/Holiday Party, featuring wines from Ninth Street Wine Market. Call for additional information, or to make a reservation.

Casa Blanca is located at 936 Broad Street, Augusta. Hours are Monday – Friday, 7:30-5:30 and Saturdays, 10-6. 706.504.3431