As the sun rises over Orlando, you’ll start to hear the whir and grind of the Trapeze cart at Livano Grand National. That’s Lola Gay, barista and Livano resident, starting her morning shift. With a bright personality and a quick smile, Lola seems made for this job. She has a quiet, happy calm that feels older than her years and makes her the kind of person you want to talk to first thing in the morning. Which says a lot.
Lola moved to Orlando from Tampa, to be closer to David, her boyfriend of four years. In Tampa, Lola thrived as a barista at Grace Family Church. She earned her barista stripes working at one of the church’s busiest locations, where they could easily serve 1,400 people for a single Sunday service. As part of the church’s welcome team, Lola loved brightening people’s day with a cup of coffee and a conversation — whether they be a church visitor, or a mom who’d just wrestled kids into clothes and the car to get there.
When she decided to move to Orlando, Lola began looking specifically for a barista position and the opening at Trapeze piqued her curiosity. “What kind of apartment complex has coffee?” she remembers thinking. It was such a different concept that she had to look into it.
After getting to know the property team at Livano Grand National, she knew she wanted to not only work at Livano but live there as well. With few connections in Orlando, Lola quickly saw her new position as a way to find a place for herself in a new city. “I’d like to say I know a good portion of the residents,” she explains, “because I have an opportunity to speak to a lot of them when they come down and see me. So that’s one thing I’m grateful for. Because I have Trapeze, I’m really able to branch out and create a community.”
Lola says she has probably ten residents she can expect to see every morning at Trapeze. Quick chats as she works the espresso machine have built relationships with people of different ages and backgrounds. “They always have tips and tricks — Orlando-related or life-related.” She explains, “they’re always there for you and that’s really awesome.” She looks forward to her daily visit from a mother and her toddler, who are also new to Orlando. “I would never have dreamed that I’d be a staple in someone’s little family,” she wonders.
As Lola is far from family now, she cherishes her interactions at Trapeze and the community she’s built at Livano. These daily touchpoints have become meaningful bright spots in everyone’s day – with much more than coffee trading hands. “[People] tell me that it makes their day, and that makes my day,” she explains.
If you’re not a coffee drinker, you probably still know Lola. She’s often strolling the property with her beloved dog, Maggie. “She’s glued to my side, but I’m always glued to hers too. She’s my favorite thing ever,” Lola gushes. Maggie has made friends of her own at Livano Grand National, building more community for Lola. Lola and Maggie enjoy walking to nearby restaurants and grabbing a meal with friends, both human and canine. On the clock, or off, they enjoy being a part of the Livano community.
The unique blend of people and place at Livano Grand National seem to create an opportunity perfectly suited for Lola. This apartment-and-coffee-shop concept that initially surprised and intrigued her, turned out to be a way to feel quickly at home in a new city. She makes a great cup of coffee and is doing what she loves — starting people’s days off right. She likes the people (and their pets), and the commute truly cannot be beat.
