Young owner brews new energy at Westside Coffee & Chai
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — At just 25 years old, Autumn Segraves is already steeped in entrepreneurship. The Sierra Valley transplant and longtime barista took over Westside Coffee & Chai in November, transforming the beloved local shop into a creative hub for community, connection and innovation.
“My first job was at a coffee shop in my small hometown,” said Segraves. “Since then, I’ve worked in restaurants and coffeehouses, and I always dreamed of having a place of my own.”
After moving to South Lake Tahoe post-high school, Segraves found herself regularly frequenting Westside Coffee & Chai. She eventually joined the staff and worked her way up to manager. Two and a half years later, the previous owner approached her with an offer: Would she like to take over the business?
With no formal business background—but a decade of hands-on service industry experience—Segraves embraced the challenge. “There’s so much I didn’t know, but I’m learning as I go,” she said.
Since taking the reins, Segraves has added housemade syrups and chai to the menu, launched a creative brunch program with “eclectic, seasonal bites,” and introduced coffee specials inspired by trends she’s observed in cities and places she has traveled to like L.A. and New York.
“It doesn’t have to just be white mochas and chai,” she said. “I want to create drinks and food that are exciting, that feel fresh and fun.”
Her menu includes unexpected offerings like ricotta toasts with olive tapenade or candied walnuts. With help from her husband and one employee—both also in their 20s—Segraves makes nearly everything in-house, emphasizing quality and craft over convenience.
But Westside Coffee & Chai is more than just a place to grab a drink. It’s a third space—a community gathering point for locals and visitors alike. On any given day, customers might spot a table of teenagers hanging out after school or a visiting couple returning for a second round after discovering the shop earlier in the week.
“There’s a regular I’ve gotten to know really well. We’re so different, but we’ve had so many conversations and found common interests—and now she’s one of my best friends,” Segraves said. “That’s the kind of connection this place creates.”
While growing the business, Segraves is leveraging her natural fluency in social media and digital culture. She posts frequently to Instagram and encourages customers to tag the shop, which has led to a surge in word-of-mouth traffic.
“I grew up with this stuff,” she said. “It’s second nature. People want to see authenticity—they want to know who’s behind the brand.”
That transparency is part of what sets Westside apart in a town filled with coffee spots. Segraves acknowledges the seasonal challenges of operating in a ski resort community, as well as the steep learning curve of owning a business. But she says the support from customers makes it all worth it.
“When people leave happy and come back again, that’s how I measure success,” she said.
Her short-term goals include fine-tuning the menu, hosting community events and earning a livable wage. Long-term, she hopes to expand—whether that means opening a second location or moving into a space with a full kitchen.
Until then, she’s focused on building a strong foundation and creating something meaningful.
“When you support Westside, you’re supporting three young people just trying to figure it out,” she said. “We don’t have investors or corporate backing—it’s just us.”
Westside Coffee & Chai is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Follow them on Instagram at @westsidecoffeechai to stay updated, and just like their bio says: “Swing by, sip slow, stay
awhile.”
