He Lost The Love of His Life In A Crash—Now He’s Building A Coffee Shop In Her Memory
Reinne’s Place is a Long Beach, CA-based Vietnamese and Filipino coffee shop dedicated to the memory of founder Tommy Le’s late girlfriend, Reinne Lim. The concept was inspired by the idea that something meaningful, beautiful, and healing can grow from something devastatingly life-changing.
In 2022, Le and Lim were struck head-on by a drunk driver going the opposite direction on the freeway. The impact took Reinne’s life instantly, while Le was left in critical condition and forced to undergo numerous surgeries.
The surgeries were just a small part of his recovery; it took help from friends and family, along with years of rebuilding for him to rediscover himself. During that period, he learned about coffee and hospitality, which gave him the idea for Reinne’s Place. More than a simple coffee shop, Le wanted “a space that carried her softness, her care, and the intention that kept me standing.”
In the three years it took for him to take the first step, he never stopped thinking about Reinne’s Place. He was just waiting for the right moment, which came one day when he saw a spot with a “For Lease” sign on his way home. Calling the number on the sign led to Le securing the location that would become Reinne’s Place.
With help from friends and family, Le was able to purchase an espresso machine and launch an ongoing pop-up series called “Reinne Drops,” with every day made going directly into the buildout. Now Le and his team are in the final stretch of making Reinne’s Place a fully-realized coffee shop.
Le has launched a Kickstarter to help cover the final plumbing and construction costs, the water meter installation and trenching repairs, and the initial operating expenses needed to open their doors. Reinne’s Place was built through community, and with your support, Le hopes to make it a space that continues to serve the community.
