At a Glance
- Reinne’s Place pop-up café in Long Beach honors late girlfriend Reinne Lim.
- Owner Tommy Le uses “Reinne checks” to share grief stories.
- The brick-and-mortar location is slated to open later this month.
- Why it matters: A café born from tragedy is turning into a community healing hub where people share memories and support each other.
A Long Beach coffee shop that began as a tribute to a lost love is now offering a space for people to share grief and find connection. Owner Tommy Le opened Reinne’s Place as an homage to his late girlfriend Reinne Lim, who died in 2022 after a fatal car collision.
From Tragedy to Tribute
Tommy Le created Reinne’s Place after surviving a head-on crash that killed Lim. He wanted to pursue their shared dream of opening a coffee shop.
Tommy Le stated:
> “She was a girl’s girl, she was a free spirit, she loved living life and she loved just everything about it. And when she came into my life, I think it really brought so much light into my life.”
Reinne Checks
The café displays “Reinne checks,” cards that resemble guest checks where people write messages to loved ones.
- They are a platform for anyone to just get something off their chest.
- Le has collected hundreds of them so far.
- The checks will be displayed at the permanent location later this month.
Tommy Le added:
> “It’s a little card that looks like a guest check from diners, and people are able to write messages to loved ones.”
Future Plans
Once the permanent location opens, the checks will be displayed and the café will serve as a platform for people to get something off their chest.
Tommy Le said:
> “I think it’s something we all share as human beings: loss. I think my being able to build a space that empowers that and allows you to feel that is a beautiful thing.”
Key Takeaways
- Reinne’s Place is a pop-up café honoring a late girlfriend.
- The café uses “Reinne checks” to share grief stories.
- The permanent location will open later this month, displaying the checks.
Reinne’s Place demonstrates how a place of remembrance can become a place of healing for a community.
