In a city like Columbia, coffee culture thrives in cozy nooks and student haunts. One café stands out—not for its brick-and-mortar charm, but for its wheels. Hendrix the Bus Coffee Shop is more than just a caffeine stop; it’s a story of passion, community and mobility.
Levy Gomez, the mastermind behind the bus, has spent years in the restaurant business, crafting concepts and training teams. When the pandemic hit, he and his wife, Samara Gomez, saw an opportunity to bring something new to Columbia.
“The whole bus situation came up with the pandemic,” Levy Gomez said. “It was actually my wife’s idea. She designed the whole thing.”
Their vision was inspired by their roots in Cancún, Mexico and a desire to create a mobile business that removed the overhead costs and limitations of a traditional café.
For Levy and Samara Gomez, mobility is more than just convenience—it’s a way of life.
“We already live in a tiny house that’s mobile," Levy Gomez said. “When we went through the process of downsizing and living happily without baggage, it gave us the idea of building a business with the same concept.”
Now, Hendrix the Bus Coffee can roll up to events, cater private gatherings and serve Columbia’s coffee lovers wherever they may be. The café is located at 1920 Blossom St. and operates daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
But why Columbia? Interestingly, the couple didn’t originally plan to settle here.
“We lived in Miami for 13 years," Levy Gomez said. “We came here because we were hired for a private event. After the event, we drove around and my wife asked me, ‘What are we doing in Miami?’ We fell in love with the place.”
Within one night, they packed up their tiny house and moved to the capital city, embracing the beauty and hospitality of South Carolina.
Hendrix the Bus Coffee’s menu is a tribute to their Mexican heritage, offering flavors and ingredients that stand out in Columbia’s coffee scene.
“We're bringing very traditional Mexican ingredients like mazápan, which is a Mexican candy, and horchata, which is a very traditional Mexican drink,” Levy Gomez expressed.
While their coffee is Italian-sourced, their approach is uniquely personal.
“You want to be different, you have to be different. And our ingredients are different,” Levy Gomez said.
There are many different items on the menu, but a few stand out as favorites.
“Everybody’s favorite is the cinnamon-ice latte," Gomez shared. “My personal favorite is the espresso and the Grandma Latte—because I love chocolate.”
Beyond the drinks and mobility, Levy Gomez sees Hendrix the Bus Coffee as part of something bigger: the Columbia community.
“Every time I talk to my customers, about Columbia I always get complaints, like it's a small city, it’s boring and I always tell them they’re taking it for granted. It’s a beautiful city. It’s a great community," Levy Gomez expressed. "Columbia offers everything a big city has to offer with a country kind of living, a low pace, a higher education and people who are polite. That Southern warmth that you don’t get anywhere else.”
As Hendrix the Bus Coffee continues to roll through Columbia, Levy and Samara Gomez remain grateful for the city that welcomed them so warmly.
“More than anything, I would like everybody to know how blessed they are by having a city like this and how grateful we are to now be a part of it,” Levy Gomez said.
So next time you see the bright and inviting bus parked around town, stop by. Grab an espresso, sip on a Grandma Latte, and taste the blend of tradition, innovation, and community that makes Hendrix the Bus Coffee more than just a coffee shop—it’s a home on wheels.
