Palace Coffee grounded in community culture
Comment below and tell us about your favorite Palace drink to be entered to win a $25 Palace gift card. When we reach 100 comments, we will randomly select a winner.
The rich, heady smell of freshly ground coffee wafts throughout the shop, adding to the cozy environment. The owner sits confidently as he speaks of the ideas that gave life to the thriving Palace Coffee Company. Every word gives a little glimpse into his passion for coffee shops, the art and atmosphere of the slow-paced industry.
The Palace Coffee Company opened more than two and a half years ago, providing Canyon with a culture created around coffee. Patrick Burns, owner of the business, utilized previous managing experiences and many visits to other coffee shops to create the Palace, located in the Square. At first, he was going to open the shop in a large city, such as Austin, but decided to look around Canyon.
“Originally, we weren’t looking for a small market,” Burns said. “For some reason, I just thought I might as well drive to Canyon. The old Palace Hotel was the second place that we looked at. It was vacant for six years and was definitely in a place of disrepair.”
The Canyon Economic Development group helped invest funds into the renovation. The Palace Coffee Company opened July 1, 2011.
“It’s been a great experience, and we have great regulars that we see almost every day, sometimes twice a day.” Burns said. “We’re always seeing new faces.”
The Palace is intended to be a community coffee shop and is targeted toward people in their late 20s.
“We know that if we can focus on that demographic, college kids will want to be in here because they aren’t targeted directly,” Burns said. “I didn’t want to be a college coffee shop. I wanted to be a community coffee shop. I knew that if we targeted older, we’d be able to reach the business people, the college people, and some high school people.”
Burns said that high school students are welcomed into the Palace, but they need to act like adults.
“They have to fit in with our culture,” Burns said. “They can practice how they’re going to act in college. What hurts coffee shops is whenever high school kids take it over. The younger the crowd, the less likely the older people will come in. We designed this coffee shop to be a community coffee shop for adults.”
However, Burns said he does not want people to feel excluded.
“I want to make everyone feel included in what we do, but they have to understand who we are,” Burns said. “They have to come in and fit into the culture we create.”
After coming in second place in the America’s Best Coffee House competition, held in Chicago, the Palace’s business has increased. Hastings’s closing, however, has not really affected the business.
“Hastings has a different demographic,” Burns said. “It was a quick drive-thru coffee shop. We are a slower-paced coffee shop. A lot of those people probably drive to Amarillo and hit Roasters, Hastings, or Starbucks.”
Because Hastings closed, the Palace has started opening on Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m.
“It’s just a four hour hit,” Burns said. “We wanted to provide a place for people on Sundays to come and get some great business.”
Burns said that when the Palace opened, he asked one of the men over the Hastings coffee program how their business was affected.
“It wasn’t (affected) at all,” Burns said. “We were able to prove that there was a market that was out there that wasn’t being catered to. We brought in a whole new revenue stream without taking it from somebody else. That, to me, was really cool.”
More than 40 percent of the coffee is served in porcelain mugs which lends to in-house business.
“When they’re just grabbing (the coffee) and going, you get to say a few words but when they sit at your table, you get to come out and talk to them about their day and what’s going on in their lives,” Burns said. “It creates a better environment for our baristas and our clients.”
Burns said that he hires baristas who truly care about people.
“We want to create an environment where we get to care, nurture our staff and the people who sit across the bar from us,” Burns said. “We get to see people on a regular basis that really become a part of our family. To me, it’s one of the best things that we do.”
Hello! My name is Tasha Brown. This is my second year on the newspaper staff and first year as Editor-in-Chief. I’m a senior at Canyon High. I’m a member of the National Honor Society, American Sign Language Honors Society and the Quill and Scroll...
Blake Ferguson • Dec 9, 2013 at 11:39 am
I didn’t know Palace got 2nd at America’s Best Coffee House competition! That’s awesome. Great story Tasha! My favorite coffee would have to be a whit chocolate hot chocolate!
Nick • Dec 9, 2013 at 11:32 am
HOT CHOCALTAE IS BEST
Kolton Burkhalter • Dec 9, 2013 at 11:30 am
Mocha Frappes are awesome!
Allison Kleman • Dec 9, 2013 at 11:29 am
I love their Chai Tea Latte!!! Absolutely delicious! I call it “Thanksgiving in a cup!” 🙂
Jeremy Chettinger • Dec 9, 2013 at 11:27 am
Palace is the best place for coffee in the state!
Caysan Lytal • Dec 9, 2013 at 11:26 am
I like their hot chocolate.
Colton Eder • Dec 9, 2013 at 11:26 am
The palace i my favorite city hang out! Peppermint movah late
Natalie Apolinar • Dec 9, 2013 at 11:25 am
My Favorite Coffee is White Chocolate Mocha
Trey J. Harris • Dec 9, 2013 at 11:16 am
Chocolate milk
Tyler Q. Wilson • Dec 9, 2013 at 11:10 am
White Chocolate Dark Carmel double shot Splenda peppermint herb chia tea with whole milk and pure whip cream.
Sarah Mejia • Dec 9, 2013 at 10:45 am
Peppermint hot chocolate
Jonathan Romero • Dec 8, 2013 at 5:35 pm
I’ve only been to Palace once but enjoyed it very much. I had a mocha expecting a Starbucks like drink but was pleasantly surprised to find that it was richer as fuller than Starbucks. I really enjoyed my visit to Palace and highly anticipate returning.
Alyx Cordell • Dec 8, 2013 at 3:38 pm
My favorite is their hot chocolate.
Tristan Forbis • Dec 7, 2013 at 7:08 pm
Hot Chocolate
Kayla • Dec 7, 2013 at 4:40 pm
My fav isd quad shot espresso
Jonathon Crump • Dec 6, 2013 at 11:07 am
Their brew bars are AMAZING it’s like your regular cup’ a joe, but on steroids
Meghan Mercer • Dec 5, 2013 at 3:41 pm
Going on an afternoon walk through the square and stopping by palace coffee and getting one of their raspberry Italian cream sodas is an ideal day for me!
Trevor fleeman • Dec 5, 2013 at 1:37 pm
My favorite is there ice caramel macchito, its awesome!
Tiffiney Moir • Dec 5, 2013 at 1:00 pm
My favorite drink would have to be italin cream soda kiwi
Rylee Harris • Dec 5, 2013 at 12:47 pm
Carmel macchiato
Georgia Hansen • Dec 5, 2013 at 12:44 pm
Caramel macchiato.
Tanner Bolton • Dec 5, 2013 at 12:42 pm
My fav is water lol
Bricia Granda • Dec 5, 2013 at 12:40 pm
My favorite drink is a caramel macchiato!
Kaylie doyle • Dec 5, 2013 at 12:13 pm
I actual never been to palace coffee but I like white and original hot chocolates so would like yo try the hot chocolates
Paul Escamilla • Dec 5, 2013 at 12:43 pm
Black and white iced coffee!!!:D
Alexis Cuellar • Dec 5, 2013 at 12:11 pm
Carmel Mocha is an absolute favorite!!
Hannah Solomon • Dec 5, 2013 at 12:07 pm
I like chocolate. A lot. Therefore, I LOVE their hot chocolate. I don’t go to Palace often, but a $25 dollar gift card would be the perfect excuse to go. 🙂
Catalina Perdomo • Dec 5, 2013 at 12:05 pm
I’ve never been but I would love the Carmel Mocha!
Callie Boren • Dec 5, 2013 at 12:04 pm
I’m not really much of a fan of coffee, but I love the choices there. You don’t even have to like coffee. I do like the iced mocha there.
Calvin Grey Rueda • Dec 5, 2013 at 11:17 am
While Palace has a plethora of delectable beverages, one stands out among the rest. It has shown it’s worth by how gloriously delicious it is, and that drink is the White Mocha! Yes, the chocolatey, creamy goodness that is the white mocha takes the cake for me. Nothing can compare to it’s smooth, sweet taste! So please give me $25 to buy a some more!
Lauren Moore • Dec 5, 2013 at 11:15 am
Caramel Macchiato is my favorite!
Ryan Guevara • Dec 5, 2013 at 11:13 am
My favorite is a white chocolate mocha!
Dom Castro • Dec 5, 2013 at 11:13 am
Ever since I moved to Canyon, Palace has been a main chill spot of mine. Cold Brews in the summer and Peppermint Bark Lattes in the cold are the best.
Garrett Welch • Dec 5, 2013 at 11:11 am
White chocolate mocha.
Josh riley • Dec 5, 2013 at 11:11 am
Great coffee at a convenient location, my favorite is the hot chocolate.
Shae Hawthorne • Dec 5, 2013 at 11:11 am
Great coffee! And such a great environment!(:
Ryan Guevara • Dec 5, 2013 at 11:11 am
My favorite is a caramel mocha.
Stefanie Suto • Dec 5, 2013 at 11:11 am
Palace knows how to do coffee!
Dirty Vanilla Chai Tea Latte is my favorite winter drink!
Austin slayton • Dec 5, 2013 at 11:08 am
My favorite drink is the white chocolate mocha!
jimmy • Dec 5, 2013 at 11:08 am
White chocolate mocha
Alex Shaw • Dec 5, 2013 at 11:01 am
My favorite drink is Italian cream soda!
Riley Kelly • Dec 5, 2013 at 10:59 am
I love Palace! Patrick is extremely nice and the baristas always look for ways to start a conversation. They make it one of the most comfortable coffee shops in the world! My favorite drink is the Zrbla because its filled with happiness and lots of sugar!
Abby Rosales • Dec 5, 2013 at 10:53 am
Caramel Macchiato, Caramel Frappe and Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Keegan Fenton • Dec 5, 2013 at 10:47 am
Palace has a lot of great drinks, but my favorite is the Mayan apocalypse!
Dylan Strickland • Dec 5, 2013 at 10:46 am
Carmel macchiato
Sophie Shelton • Dec 5, 2013 at 10:21 am
Cafe O lait
Bella Barnett • Dec 5, 2013 at 12:07 am
I absolutely love the friendly staff and atmosphere at Palace Coffee. It is a wonderful place to spend time with friends, listen to great music, read a good book, and in my case, drink a hibiscus tea.
cheyenne paulson • Dec 4, 2013 at 5:54 pm
Chai tea lattes and mocha lattes are my favorite!
Lindy Pasley • Dec 4, 2013 at 5:45 pm
My favorite is a chai tea latte!
Nicole Steelman • Dec 4, 2013 at 5:41 pm
I like the Carmelo!
McKenna Olson • Dec 4, 2013 at 3:11 pm
Definitly hot chocolate.
Elizabeth Gilliland • Dec 4, 2013 at 3:09 pm
My favorite drink at Palace is definitely a Peppermint Steamer.
Jaziel Quintana • Dec 4, 2013 at 3:08 pm
I love going to palace, their coffee is absolutely phenomenal. I especially enjoy drinking their hazelnut lattes on cold days. But their iced ones are just great and satisfying! If I had more money I’d go all the time because its so delicious, and well Y.O.L.O
Levi Mauk • Dec 4, 2013 at 2:01 pm
Hands down the carmal machiato
Lexie Bracken • Dec 4, 2013 at 12:13 pm
I love apple cider from the Palace, but my favorite drink is a “Fog!” It’s like a tea latte.
Dylan Douglass • Dec 4, 2013 at 12:07 pm
I’m really not a big fan of almonds, however the hot almond tea is magnificent!
Lydia Solomon • Dec 4, 2013 at 12:03 pm
I love palace!!! I am a fan of the iced Carmel latte!
Ben Gilliland • Dec 4, 2013 at 12:01 pm
I like hot chocolate.
Annalisa Delao • Dec 4, 2013 at 11:58 am
Iced Chocolate Milk :)))
Angellica McCraw • Dec 4, 2013 at 11:51 am
I love Italian Cream Soda and a white mocha! You did a great job on this article!
J. Douglass • Dec 4, 2013 at 11:43 am
LOVE the Mocha — NO whip thank you!!!
Grace Guthrie • Dec 4, 2013 at 11:29 am
I love Palace and the games and traditions it gives to many people! I love the White Hot Chocolate with a splash of peppermint!
Zane Crabtree • Dec 4, 2013 at 11:28 am
Teddygram latte
Carrie Guthrie • Dec 4, 2013 at 11:27 am
I love Palace. I love the history of the building and that it was repurposed! My favorite drink is a White Choclate Mocha!
Tori Martinez • Dec 4, 2013 at 10:16 am
I love the Palace coffee shop! Hot cocoa sounds really good to keep warm in this frigid weather.
Allyson Wieck • Dec 4, 2013 at 10:16 am
I like french vanilla coffee!!!!
Becca Robinson • Dec 4, 2013 at 10:16 am
I love their hot chocolate!!
Reno Ewers • Dec 4, 2013 at 10:15 am
GOOD COFFEEEEEEEEE
Gisabelle Gonzalez • Dec 4, 2013 at 10:15 am
Hot Chocolate!!
Taylor Rutkowski • Dec 4, 2013 at 10:14 am
I am a HUGE hot chocolate fan.
Taylor Rutkowski • Dec 4, 2013 at 10:18 am
After seeing these comments I feel like I should broaden my Palace drink horizon.
Paige Britten • Dec 4, 2013 at 10:13 am
Italian Cream Soda!
Ryan T. Land • Dec 4, 2013 at 8:37 am
First off I would love to acknowledge the awesome pun in the headline, that is phenomenal. Palace Coffee has been a great addition to Canyon city culture, for sure. My favorite drink? An Americano, no room for cream.
Lianna Kerneck • Dec 4, 2013 at 12:00 am
To me “The Palace” is the place to be in Canyon. I enjoy the friendly environment and how I always meet somebody I know there. I like how you can sit down, enjoy the music and the comfy chairs, have a place to study, get inspired by the art at the wall, or play games. It does not matter if you are alone, with one friend, or a group of people, you are always welcomed. My favorite drink to order is a Latte, though I love the water they offer on that small table!!
Kayla Ann Finke • Dec 3, 2013 at 9:07 pm
Although I love most types of coffee at Palace, the albino turtle is my favorite!!
Jonathon Crump • Dec 3, 2013 at 8:51 pm
Palace is the bomb.com. My favorite drink is the Nutty Irishman; a latte with Irish cream and hazelnut.
Preston • Dec 3, 2013 at 6:41 pm
Hot chocolate…. YUMMM
Jake Fichtler • Dec 3, 2013 at 4:10 pm
I think the Mayan Apocalypse is the best. I mean really, spicy coffee is the best idea ever!
Jana Meyer • Dec 3, 2013 at 3:15 pm
I enjoy relaxing at The Palace. My favorite drink is chia tea, both hot and cold depending on the season.
Kolton Brock • Dec 3, 2013 at 3:13 pm
I really like going to get caramel lattes. They’re the bomb.
Malea McWest • Dec 3, 2013 at 3:10 pm
When Palace Coffee first began to have live performances, it became one of my favorite locations to just hang out in Canyon. I love getting to experience the thrill of watching my close friends produce some wonderful music while sipping on the best coffee in the Panhandle.
My personal favorite is a House Mocha with an extra shot of mocha. Tiny girls like me can surprisingly handle a little extra caffeine.
Brandon Jurado • Dec 3, 2013 at 3:04 pm
Best coffee in town!!
Trevor Macklin • Dec 4, 2013 at 3:24 pm
Is that a flavor?
Jazmin Williams • Dec 3, 2013 at 3:02 pm
Caramel Frapp♥
Arinn Wall • Dec 3, 2013 at 3:01 pm
My favorite drink is a chai latte. 🙂
Trevor Macklin • Dec 3, 2013 at 3:00 pm
My favorite coffee flavor is the CARAMEL FRAPPE!
Courtney Higgins • Dec 3, 2013 at 2:30 pm
Carmel Macchiato 🙂
Ashley Morgan • Dec 3, 2013 at 2:19 pm
Me and my friends hangout there all the time. The coffee is soooo good and I love looking at all of their artwork hanging on the walls. I was lucky to meet a girl who did one of the paintings hanging in the back of the coffee shop. This place is just peaceful and relaxing, and on the day before the big test, me and a group of friends have a study group there sometimes. It’s great!!!!
Berkley Trumbly • Dec 3, 2013 at 2:15 pm
I love Palace! My favorite drink would be peppermint hot chocolate. 🙂
Julie Randall • Dec 3, 2013 at 2:13 pm
I have a simple taste when it comes to coffee. My favorite is an iced mocha latte, or a pumpkin latte when it’s in season.
Lexie Trahern • Dec 3, 2013 at 12:41 pm
White Chocolate Mocha
Lake Youngbloid • Dec 3, 2013 at 12:40 pm
I was excited when Palace opened in Canyon because I knew we would have a decent coffee place that was way better than Hastings. I go there frequently with friends and I love to get an iced Mocha frappe.
Kendall Tipton • Dec 3, 2013 at 12:43 am
I love going to Palace, not only to get great drinks, but also to have a quiet, stress-free environment where you can just relax! My favorite is definitely the salted caramel latte.
Chayse Armstrong • Dec 2, 2013 at 5:14 pm
Palace has been one of the best small businesses to open in Canyon. Patrick knows my parents from high school and every time I purchase a delightful cup of Jo, I’m never disappointed. My personal favorite is an iced black and white mocha. The whipped cream is the best and the blend of all the flavors are exceedingly satisfying!
Cenee Precure • Dec 2, 2013 at 4:59 pm
My favorites are vanilla lattes and blackberry sage steamed lattes!
Natalie Apolinar • Dec 4, 2013 at 10:17 am
Palace Coffee is the best!
Caramel Frappe is the best for this winter season <3!!!!!!!
Lance Culbert • Dec 2, 2013 at 3:23 pm
My wife and I love Palace! Even though they are targeting an adult audience, we feel very comfortable taking our kids (ages 10 and 7) in there. As a family, we’ve gone to get Saturday morning coffee (and hot chocolate) and play a game or two. I also appreciate the live music they bring in to the community and the fact they donate to charitable organizations in Canyon and worldwide!
Lance Culbert • Dec 2, 2013 at 4:13 pm
BTW, my (current) favorite drink is a mocha latte!
Ashli Melton • Dec 2, 2013 at 3:15 pm
gingerbread latte
Brice Boren • Dec 2, 2013 at 3:14 pm
I am a huge fan of the iced mocha.
Logan Hinders • Dec 2, 2013 at 3:12 pm
I love Palace! Patrick and the crew have done an awesome job with the shop. My favorite drink is a cortado served in a gibraltar.