Day Trips

Coastal cafe (Photo By Gerald E. McLeod)

Beeman's Coffee Bar sits at the end of a long morning walk on the Port Aransas beach. After a refreshing stroll in the bracing Gulf breeze, what could be better than a big steaming cup of coffee and a homemade pastry still warm from the ovens?

Towns twice the size of Port Aransas would love to have a business like Beeman's. A little place like this can raise the quality of life for a large population of residents and visitors. Martin and Judy Beeman chose to open their bakery and coffee shop and raise their son in Port Aransas for the small town atmosphere. After living in Georgetown for years, the big-city ways were encroaching too much on the country feel of the Williamson County seat for the Beemans.

"Judy is a master pastry chef," Martin says, divulging the secret behind the business' success. Her cakes were highly sought after for special occasions in the North Austin area. As a caterer, she stayed busy while Martin traveled around the country as a sales representative for several publishing houses.

"As I traveled around I sought out the little coffee shops," Martin says, "I always wanted to open my own some day." The shop was supposed to be their retirement business, he says.

The plan was to work at the shop and leave plenty of time for fishing and duck hunting. Martin admits to only getting to the fishing pier on average of once a week and out to the duck blinds even less. Although the shop is only open from 7am to 2pm, work begins by 4am and doesn't end when the doors are locked. "I never worked so hard in my life," he says with a laugh.

This May, the Beemans' coffee shop celebrates its fourth anniversary and the couple couldn't be happier. Several of the island's celebrities, who Martin refuses to name, come in regularly. "They usually sit in the back of the patio so nobody will notice them," he says.

Like everything else on the island, the coffee shop is often packed from Memorial Day to Labor Day, giving the Beemans only Tuesdays off. December is the quiet time for islanders while things begin to pick up in January. "The weather is always great," says Martin, who went to college in Hawaii, where he met his wife. Even an occasional blue norther can't dampen the spirits.

Along with espresso drinks, gourmet coffees, and teas, the coffee shop has showcases of baked goods that will make the mouth water. "Everything is handmade fresh," Martin says. This is like walking into the kitchen of a hundred grandmothers. The problem is where to start when it all looks good.

Beeman's is probably most famous for their unique Eggs Benedict that are served only on weekends. Martin became a connoisseur of the breakfast treat while he was working as a traveling salesman. Restaurants on his travels, particularly in the South, would have their own special twists on the egg and muffin concoction. Martin and Judy began experimenting until they developed their own recipe with a couple of special ingredients that make it a little more tart than usual. "I will say that we use a potato bread muffin that we make instead of a store-bought English muffin," he says, "I don't know if potato bread is better for you, but it sure is tastier."

Of course, Judy is still making her famous cakes. "Rarely is there a cake that she can't make," Martin says. The house specialty is a chocolate devil's food cake with mousse filling, chocolate frosting, and topped with handmade chocolate seashells. One of the glass cases in the shop is always full of cakes sold by the slice so that the customers can pamper themselves. Isn't that what a trip to Port A is about anyway?

Along with the cinnamon rolls, sticky buns, kolaches, and croissants, the Beemans serve deli sandwiches and hamburgers. Their hot Reuben sandwich rivals any New York delicatessen. Add a cup of soup and the cool ocean breeze becomes a garnish. During the summer try Judy's gazpacho for a cool snack that is good enough to be a meal.

In the last few years the island cuisine has really taken off. Several fine dining establishments have been added to the list of seafood stands along the waterfront. Of all the great eating places, Beeman's is really the icing on the cake in more ways than one. It's almost a shame to get a hotel room with a kitchen at Port Aransas anymore.

Beeman's Coffee Bar is two blocks east of Alister Street at 229 Beach St. The shop is open 7am-2pm, Thursday through Monday, and until 1pm on Sunday. For more information or to place a cake order, call 361/749-7616.

557th in a series. Day Trips, Vol. 2, a book of Day Trips 101-200, is available for $8.95, plus $3.05 for shipping, handling, and tax. Mail to: Day Trips, PO Box 33284, South Austin, TX 78704.