ALL THINGS ELGIN
Lo-Fi Opens New Location
By Steph Lewis
Leaving the Austin grind behind in March 2019, I set out for Bastrop County with one goal: slow waaaay down and find meaningful community.
A reconnection with artist Ellen Tanner quickly introduced me to a vibrant circle of locals—a real estate connector, an events guru, a hometown banker, and a Bastrop baker among them. Grateful for that first bite out of small-town life, I soon deepened my roots
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In 2020, I joined the B.E.S.T. Leaders program, a cross-county initiative fostering service, connection, and leadership. Though the pandemic disrupted plans, the relationships I built led to a seat on Bastrop’s Main Street Program advisory board, where I worked on community projects like pole banners, bike racks, and beautification efforts. Always seeking inspiration, I’d often wind down by scrolling Instagram—where I first came across Ashley Dahlke and the vision that became Lo-Fi Coffee House in Elgin.
That Fun Farm Life
Ashley's Facebook feed was chock full of pretty flowers, stylized food, pottery pics, and baby goats (and pigs and geese and an OG pug named Toki) from her 6-acre farm in Elgin. Sqweeee! This gal seems cool.
Ashley shared pics of things she made and baked and, clearly… things she loved. She was raw—sometimes lamenting that farming and animal husbandry is indeed hard and requires self-care in the process—but always grateful. She was living the dream.
Through her feed, I saw her bud The Cookie Farmer in 2019, a special-order cookie, cake, and pie business sold at local markets.
That’s where I was introduced to the lady-makers of Luna Market and She Creates Community (more on both in another Elgin Chronicle story). Then, in 2021, Ashley evolved into Graze Baking Co., offering more breads, baked goods, and her farm’s fresh eggs weekly at the Elgin Farmers’ Market.
By this point, she’d graduated from the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, had a career in Austin, and was fully baking in Elgin! And she was making good stuff happen.
Lo-Fi Coffee House + Studio
Then came the next big announcement, years in the making: Lo-Fi Coffee House and Studio was born.
Lo-fi refers to a subgenre of music that embraces raw, “homemade” audio imperfections. When pressed, Ashley explained, “Jason, her musician husband, came up with the name (originally for a pottery project), and it translated pretty well to coffee and the slow, comfortable feeling we are trying to hold onto in a crazy ‘get everything as fast as possible’ world.”
In January 2023, she posted that she’d secured a space on Elgin’s historic Main Street and would open a coffee shop in the spring. There would be more pastries, more pottery, and a studio space in the back for maker sessions.
She later shared a note she’d penned to Jason in 2015, laying out her vision—though originally, she thought it might be in Austin:
“People will come in to buy art and goods for their home but oh, hey, look at these conveniently placed snacks and delicious coffee, maybe I will hang out here…”
That’s exactly the kind of space she created.
Because the building didn’t have a commercial kitchen, Ashley rented an off-site commissary and carted her baked goods into the shop. There was also enough room for pop-ups and community gatherings... and the people came.
She celebrated her one-year anniversary in June 2024 with a note to customers:
“I couldn’t have asked for a better first year. The support we’ve felt has honestly been overwhelming. We love this community so much, and we hope to keep growing with you, Elgin. Thank you all so much for, well, everything.”
A New Location and Second Act
Not a month after celebrating her first anniversary, Ashley announced Lo-Fi’s move off Main Street to the former Southside Market building at 109 Central, just around the corner. The new space had a commercial kitchen and room to expand the menu. She updated the logo, planned to add more curated home goods and gifts, and continue serving the same great coffee and espresso her customers love.
While the studio portion no longer exists, she’s amped for the recurring events that are lining up:
- Bitch & Stitch – 1st Sunday of each month, 2-4 pm
- Books & Brunch – 4th Sunday of each month, 10 am-2 pm
- Pop-Up Artist Showcases
Ashley opened the doors to her new space on January 15, 2025. When I finally arrived at 1 pm to wish her well, the pastry cabinet was picked clean! Nothing left but The One caprese sandwich on homemade focaccia. I paired it with a matcha latte, sweetened slightly with honey, just like Lucy* orders.
I don’t know Lucy’s story, we met at a former Lo-Fi-hosted event, but she loves Lo-Fi too. It’s neat that when I order a matcha “just like Lucy likes it,” Lo-Fi knows EXACTLY what I mean. That’s small-town charm to a tee! Or is it tea? Wink.
Went again on Friday to try something else. From 8am to 11:30am there was ac-o-n-s-t-a-n-t flow of customers.
For hours, y’all.
They gushed over the banana pudding Kouign-amann (pronounced Queen Amon—now you know!), goat cheese onion jam danishes, and big ole browned butter chocolate chip cookies.
Customers took home boxes of breakfast biscuits and gathered in rotating groups to sit down and chat. They hugged each other in line. They cleaned Lo-fi out. Again.
I camped until well after noon, at one point sharing my table with strangers. It was all such a good, sweet vibe. What a treat to slow waaaaay down and enjoy the community they are building. Thank you Lo-Fi.
109 A, Central Ave, Elgin, TX 78621
Meet Features Writer Steph Lewis
Leaving Austin in 2019 for greener pastures, Steph settled into a little cabin on the Colorado River just outside of Bastrop. She co-founded Bastrop’s Noon Lions Club chapter, served as a Bastrop Chamber ambassador and was appointed vice chair of the Bastrop Main Street Advisory Board, chairing the Design Committee for several years. Her Main Street Experience and former life as a managing editor for a New York City based fashion magazine adds incredible talent to our growing creative staff. We're so happy she's chosen Elgin as her new meaningful community of record.
The Elgin Chronicles
