Customers visiting New Sound Cafe in Austin are greeted by the sounds of gospel legends like Mahalia Jackson, The Soul Stirrers, James Cleveland, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. The coffee shop, located at 5958 W. Lake St., opened in November and occupies a building that once housed New Sound Gospel Records and Tapes, which closed more than two decades ago. The main floor displays classic records on its walls, while upstairs features a vintage organ and the original storefront sign.
The cafe maintains many elements from the former record store, including its tile floor and brick walls. Classic gospel music by artists such as Aretha Franklin and the Five Blind Boys of Alabama plays throughout the space. According to the owners, regulars from the old record shop now frequent the cafe and share stories about their experiences.
Lee Johnson previously owned New Sound Gospel Records and Tapes while also operating another location in Roseland. After the Austin store closed over 20 years ago, Andrew and Hannah Follett noticed the vacant building during their commutes to Chicago West Bible Church.
Andrew Follett has experience as an entrepreneur with ventures including a video-production company, while Hannah works as a physician’s assistant. They did not initially plan to enter the food or coffee business but were motivated by their faith.
“We wouldn’t have done this if our faith wasn’t the driving force behind this,” Andrew Follett said. “Our community from our church and our school is Christ-centered. Hearing from them what they want for their community, for their neighborhood and then for us has been a huge step of faith where neither one of us has worked in food or coffee before.”
The couple met at Wheaton College and lived in Oak Park before moving to Austin in 2021. Their family lives near the cafe, attending local schools and church together. After purchasing the property four years ago, they learned more about its history through connections at their church.
Creating a place for community engagement was important to them when opening New Sound Cafe.
“Psalm 40:3, that’s been our underlying driving factor, personally, that this place would create a space in which people are in some way — whether it’s a conversation, whether it’s just a feeling of lightness of encouragement from being here — given a new reason to praise the Lord,” Hannah Follett said.
The Gold Record Club offers members four regular drinks per month plus one premium drink for $19 monthly; members also receive discounts on purchases and have their names displayed on gold records inside the cafe.
A community room upstairs can be rented for events. The owners hope to host live gospel performances as well as programs supporting networking groups and entrepreneurs.
New Sound Cafe operates Monday through Saturday with varying hours each day; further details are available on its website.
