There’s a new coffee shop in town, covered in pink and serving a signature drink called the BBL.
The Caffeine Rx opened Nov. 1 in downtown Champaign, taking over the space that Cafe Kopi occupied for more than 30 years. The café decided not to renew its lease last year due to lingering economic loss from the pandemic.
Owner Bailey Roth spent years searching for the right location before settling on 107 N. Walnut St. On her days off from being a full-time nurse, she painted walls and arranged furniture, transforming the brick-and-mortar interior into a bright, playful space.
Bailey Roth initially envisioned The Caffeine Rx as being more than just a coffee shop. She wanted a space that was both functional and fun, where the community could gather to enjoy the café’s atmosphere and drinks alike. Today, that vision is coming to life.
“I know a lot of people are like, ‘Oh, it’s just coffee,’” Bailey Roth said. “But (I hope people are) excited to come and study, or have a place that they can come and chill for a while.”
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On top of getting the building together, Bailey Roth also had to spread the word about her new project. The shop quickly developed a social media following and now has over 800 Instagram followers since its opening. She uses the account to share new drinks, post event announcements and updated hours of operation.
Inside, vinyl records from artists like One Direction, Big Time Rush and Sabrina Carpenter hang on the pink walls — decorations Bailey Roth brought from home. In the second room, a neon pink and purple setup serves as a photo-op for customers. Bailey Roth hopes to enhance this backdrop, add a photo booth and eventually have a place for customers to display their photos.
The menu reflects this same sense of playfulness. The shop features drinks like the RX, a strawberry matcha, and the Cookie Butter Latte, which has quickly become the shop’s most popular order. The BBL, short for Basic B—- Latte, has caught attention for its name and timeless caramel-vanilla flavor.
In the future, Bailey Roth wants to host events like a Christmas movie night and drag bingo, with hopes to build a sense of community around the coffee shop.
Bailey Roth’s sister, Riley Roth, works behind the counter making drinks for customers throughout the day. She enjoys being a part of the project and credits her sister’s ambition for much of the effort that went into opening the shop.
“She did the majority of everything here,” Riley Roth said. “It’s just been really fun. That’s the biggest thing I can say about working here.”
Tessa Clarizio, a graduate student studying environmental engineering, has followed the shop on social media since before its opening. She even won a giveaway that The Caffeine Rx offered, and was awarded with seven days of free coffee.
Clarizio also has a personal connection to the location — she once lived in the apartment above the shop and visited Cafe Kopi frequently. For her, the opening of The Caffeine Rx combined that familiarity with a new energy.
“It was nice to see a new shop come in and continue the cozy, coffee, café vibe of this place,” Clarizio said.
With a five-year lease signed and plans to keep improving the space, Bailey Roth said she is focused on growing The Caffeine Rx into a community hub for all.
“I’ve always said it would be cool to have multiple locations, but I think this one is gonna be my baby for a while,” Bailey Roth said.
