Café Mesa Opens in Costa Mesa Lions Park

The new 1,100-square-foot coffee shop sits between the Donald Dungan Library and the community center.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Openings & Closings

A modern wooden coffee kiosk situated among lush oak trees and green grass in a municipal park with library buildings in the background. — Café Mesa has officially opened within Costa Mesa’s Lions Park, operating as a communal hub that funds local library programming through revenue-sharing. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Café Mesa has officially opened within Lions Park in Costa Mesa. The project serves as a communal hub for residents situated between the Donald Dungan Library and the Norma Hertzog Community Center.

Why it matters

The cafe provides a dedicated space for community members to congregate while generating revenue to support programming at local library branches. A revenue-sharing agreement ensures a portion of sales directly funds services at the Dungan and Mesa Verde locations.

The project involved a $1.1 million general fund investment supplemented by $1.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds. The operator pays a 3% share of gross revenue to the city and OC Public Libraries.

The players

Ally Garvin

She is the first operator of Café Mesa and previously established a successful coffee business in Sunset Beach.

Donald Dungan Library

This public library serves as a primary landmark and programming hub located adjacent to the new cafe.

The details

Operated by Ally Garvin, the 1,100-square-foot stand offers coffee roasted at her secondary location in Sunset Beach. The business currently operates on a schedule of Thursday through Sunday.

2015: Ally Garvin opened Neat Coffee as a popup.
2019: Garvin moved Neat Coffee to a standalone location.
2022: The city received $1.2 million in federal funds.
November 2025: Garvin opened a second shop in Sunset Beach.
October 24, 2026: Café Mesa celebrated its grand opening.

Market Landscape

This project reflects a broader municipal trend of integrating private retail operations into public spaces to revitalize civic infrastructure. It positions the city to leverage high-traffic library foot traffic for consistent, revenue-generating community services.

Local visitors to Lions Park now have an on-site coffee option available from Thursday through Sunday. Residents can support local library programming simply by purchasing goods at the park-based shop.

The takeaway

The partnership creates a sustainable model for funding public library programs through private commerce. Residents are encouraged to check the current operating hours as the cafe may expand its schedule in the future.