WEST ASHLEY -- Joe and Diana Walker were in the midst of opening Shift Pilates Body Shop when A Salt n Battered shuttered next door.
The couple scrapped their plans to debut a coffee shop inside the fitness studio, opting instead to take over the 1303 Ashley River Road space.
Given the success of Café Roca since it opened in February, they're happy with the decision, said Joe Walker, who previously operated a restaurant named Studio 8 on James Island.
And they have plans to further expand within the West Ashley strip center where their two businesses are housed.
Café Roca serves an eclectic food menu filled with breakfast and lunch options. Inside the modern establishment, tables fill with avocado toast, seared tuna bowls, egg wontons and sandwiches served on sourdough from Radical Bread Co. Coffee is sourced from Riptide Coffee in North Charleston.
The décor nods to 1990s nostalgia. A green bike hangs next to the door -- a reference to Seinfeld -- and tucked in the back is a CD player with headphones for listening to tracks by Pearl Jam, Phish, Sublime and other musicians.
Each month, Walker makes a themed playlist customers can listen to in the restaurant and at home.
"I think engaging design, especially in restaurant form, pulls at nostalgia," Walker said. "I'm a kid of the '90s, and CDs were my vinyl."
While running Café Roca and the Pilates studio, the Walkers have their sights set on a third venture inside the Ashley River Road strip center.
They've taken over the space previously occupied by Taco Bartina with plans to split the space into thirds. There will be a corner store, public working space and Italian restaurant, Walker said. The store -- which will be named The Corner Store -- is set to open in June, with the other businesses to follow.
Café Roca is open from 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, follow the café on Instagram @caferoca_chs.