Bicycle enthusiasts gather on weekend mornings at a coffee shop before taking off on a group ride. While sipping one of many coffee drinks on the menu, they can pick up parts for their bikes or get a little maintenance done. That’s what sets 7th and Park apart from most coffee or bicycle shops.

“I always wanted to own my own business but the ideas kept changing,” said Graham Sevier-Schultz, who opened the combination bicycle and coffee shop in Brownsville about a year ago. “I am into coffee and bikes and that turned into a business idea. A lot of this was joining my passions and interests.”

Sevier-Schultz moved to Brownsville three and a half years ago with his wife, a Valley native he met while living in Dallas. Once deciding on the business concept, they purchased a small lot on Seventh Street along Brownsville’s Linear Park in the Mitte Cultural District.

“We built the building so we got to make it what we wanted,” Servier-Schultz said. “The exterior blends with the city’s history and the interior is modern.”

7th and Park opened in early 2017 and the blend of bicycles and coffee attracted a following early on. “The cultures tend of overlap quite a bit,” he said. “If you are a cyclist and go for a morning ride, where better to meet than a coffee shop. And you can take care of any bike supplies you need while you are here.”

The coffee menu features espresso concoctions as well as cold brew and French press coffees. One signature drink is Mexican Mocha, a blend of latte and spiced chocolate. “I really wanted to blend local flavors to keep people interested and be unique,” Sevier-Schultz said. “We even make our own vanilla syrup.”

At the side of the building opposite the coffee bar is the bicycle shop. “We are a full-service bike shop,” he said. “We buy, sell and service bikes, anything from a kid’s first bike up to a pro bike. We can handle anything that someone can throw at us.”

The specialty coffee menu draws a wide range of patrons, some of whom work on laptops while they sip. John Faulk, a photographer and regular customer, said he spends most afternoons at 7th and Park catching up on work. “I didn’t know I was drinking crap until I started coming here,” he said while sipping a coffee. “This place opened my eyes to what coffee is all about.”

7th and Park also has a live music night once a month, and hosts a monthly local artisan market as part of growing effort to contribute to local culture. “In the future this will be a good cultural center,” Sevier-Schultz said.

Open every day from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., except Sunday when it closes at 6 p.m., 7th and Park’s location is in the heart of Brownsville’s cultural scene. The Brownsville Museum of Fine Art is practically across the street and attractions like the Children’s Museum of Brownsville, Camille Playhouse, Gladys Porter Zoo and the Historic Brownsville Museum are just a few of the attractions within walking distance.

Through the process of building his business, Sevier-Schultz has become involved in the development of Brownsville’s cultural amenities and quality of life. “I am really happy with the location in the Mitte district,” he said.

He recently applied and was accepted to join the board of the Brownsville Community Corporation, an organization that works on quality of life projects and supports economic development opportunities. “I really enjoy seeing the planning process at work.”