Cholla House Coffee Opens at Historic Chiriaco Summit with a Mission to Give Back

The historic Chiriaco Summit Travel Center had much to celebrate this weekend with the opening of a new business dedicated not only to great coffee, but also to making a positive impact on the world.

Cholla House Coffee, a cozy espresso bar located inside the Chiriaco Summit Diner and Marketplace, officially opened its doors, drawing excitement from both locals and travelers. NBC Palm Springs’ Steve Sumrall was on site to capture the celebration and the story behind the shop.

The business is run by siblings Victor and Heather Garcia, who serve as general manager and team member, respectively. The two are the great-grandchildren of community founders Joe and Ruth Chiriaco and say honoring their family’s legacy was a driving force behind the venture.

“For me, finding a place that had a greater service to the community was really important,” said Victor Garcia.

That commitment is reflected in their choice of coffee distributor. Cholla House Coffee proudly serves beans from Talitha Coffee Roasters, a San Diego-based company dedicated to helping survivors of human trafficking rebuild their lives through employment and career training.

“A lot of the people they hire in their roasteries are survivors,” Garcia explained. “Their mission is to grow their business so they can help even more people.”

Customers say the cause makes every cup more meaningful.

“I think it’s a really prevalent issue in our world right now, and a lot of people aren’t talking about it,” said one customer. “Anything we can do to help is great.”

Others shared their appreciation for stumbling upon a business that blends quality coffee with purpose.

“It’s the perfect cute little shop,” another customer said. “I love that the proceeds are going to such an important cause.”

For those unable to visit Chiriaco Summit in person, Talitha Coffee products are also available online, allowing supporters to contribute simply by purchasing coffee.

“Just buying a cup of coffee or a bag of beans helps a good cause,” Garcia said.