A good friend recently introduced me to Remix Audio Bar, a coffee house, ramen shop, and DJ bar on Guadalupe Street. Walking in on a Saturday morning precisely at opening time, we were greeted by a smiling barista and a familiar voice singing an unfamiliar song. It was David Bowie doing “Conversation Piece” from his posthumously released album Toy. Bowie was my lifeline during a turbulent adolescence, and I felt instantly at home and in heaven.

My friend and I ordered mushroom turmeric lattes, leaving the barista to work his magic while we toured each room in the sweet adobe house that formerly housed Fire & Hops. Purple, black, and gold walls lent an underground late-night feel, and I could barely contain my excitement about the eighties decor. Flipping through the creatively curated vinyl for sale in the game room, I flashed back to Rick Aranda’s Replay Records, an early eighties hangout for new wave, punk, and ska enthusiasts in Santa Fe.

Given the early hour, we had our pick of seating, but how could we not go for the oversized Alice in Wonderland tufted chairs? Tiny vinyl record coasters lay on the table underneath our spicy, creamy, honey-sweetened lattes. A collection of interesting party games, tarot cards, and fascinating books was on the windowsill. The barstools all had real LP seats—and Bowie was still playing! I needed to know more about the taste arbiters responsible for bringing this vision to life.

When I asked the barista for the inside scoop, he said Remix belonged to him and his wife, Julie Grace, who goes by Joolz. Justin Ray, introducing himself as 13pieces, told me he’s been DJing since eighth grade. Originally from Laguna Pueblo, he also worked as a barista, an educator (preschool, high school, and Native prep school), and a freelance video artist. One evening, he was at the Center for Contemporary Arts, where he worked in a promotional capacity, and saw a woman he’d noticed dancing at his DJ gigs for the past decade. He’d always been attracted to her but never found the right opportunity to express it. After Joolz revealed that she’d been stood up, 13 offered her his plus-one ticket. She accepted, and they sat side by side. They wound up holding hands and have been in soulmate heaven ever since. 

At the time, Joolz was finishing up her medical degree and thinking about finding work as an on-set doctor for an entertainment company. After taking a college business course, though, she decided to revisit her options. She asked 13 to accompany her to California to check out gathering places; she was excited about using her design sense to foster community. At the end of the trip, she asked him to quit his day job and partner with her to create a space with an inimitable, inclusive aesthetic. He was ready. He realized that, though all his former occupations had been rewarding, he derived the most joy from being a DJ, including teaching the craft to others.

Returning home, they rented a small office space next to La Lecheria (then located on Marcy Street), the ice cream store started by local chef and cofounder of Fire & Hops, Joel Coleman. Once upon a time, 13 had been a barista and DJ at this location, so it felt like a full-circle moment. They asked Coleman if they could take over his auxiliary seating area to launch an audiolab / coffee shop. Though the landlord was reluctant to rent to inexperienced newcomers, Coleman vouched for them. This was the first incarnation of Remix.

As the couple’s vision expanded, their need for a larger space led them to the Guadalupe location. 13 conducts his DJ Dojo (@remixdojo) as an integral part of the café, offering tutelage through subscription and private classes. Whereas the Japanese definition of “dojo” is “place of the way,” 13 expresses his personal interpretation as “place of a way.” He seeks to nurture the development of individual expression rather than adherence to one specific method. The unifying thread is to “work the machines so they don’t work you,” instilling confidence that expands into all areas of life. The strategically positioned DJ booth just inside the audio bar’s entrance offers a place for students to hone their skills. For patrons, the novelty of listening to different DJs playing tasty tunes on vinyl in all genres, day and night, never wears off.

Joolz had no intention of letting the kitchen lie fallow. Coleman’s culinary chops had been instrumental to creating the hotspot that Fire & Hops had once been, and the couple’s bond with the Hawaii-born chef drew her to request his mentorship in the art of ramen and other Japanese-inspired dishes. Joolz’s daring dive into the restaurant business has proven to be a major draw for vegans and meat eaters alike searching for nutritious, delicious late-night fare.

On a brisk Friday night, I ordered the vegan ramen with a sesame-garlic base, gluten-free rice noodles, shiitake and white mushrooms, grilled cabbage, julienned watermelon radishes, and scallions. The slightly salty but undeniably charming barista predicted a long wait because each bowl is made to order. Mine showed up within twenty minutes, bursting with color. The broth was enticingly aromatic, with just the right amount of brine. Each vegetable was perfectly cooked and distinctly flavorful. Sweet, crispy snow pea slivers added a delightful top note. The mindful balance of flavors rendered the light meal completely satisfying, and my initial concerns about being able to savor and digest in a music-centric environment vanished in the presence of euphonious volume levels delivered through a killer sound system. If you’re looking for quiet conversation when the music is more raucous, sit in the sunroom or on the back patio (except on Saturday nights, when student DJs leave the dojo nest to practice hosting their own back patio events).

Though I’m generally uncomfortable venturing unaccompanied to nightclubs, I feel no apprehension at Remix. During subsequent visits, I’ve been struck by the healthy boundaries and approachability of the venue’s eclectic clientele. On a Wednesday—soft electronica night at Remix—I met a guest DJ and regular at Remix who told me he’d developed a taste for nonalcoholic venues while working as a photographer in big cities. He shared that NA bars like Remix provide an option that is “not work, not home, but a third space that is welcoming and open.” His description of Remix as a place to “meet a friend or make a new one” captures its essence.

In a speech to the Ohio Arts Council, Toni Morrison said, “If there is a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, you must be the one to write it.” This seems to sum up the motivation behind Remix. The synergy of Joolz’s and 13’s talents merges the best cultural elements of the past with those of the present, resulting in a venue where guests from multiple generations, backgrounds, and persuasions can find a place at the bar.

All beverages are nonalcoholic, including “booze-free elixirs,” offering a refreshing change of pace from conventional social lubricants. Light Japanese-inspired dishes and snacks are available at a reasonable price from 6 to 10 pm, and, for the late-morning crowd (the café opens at 10 am), fresh pastries are made in house. Current business hours are Wednesday–Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm. The back patio is open during temperate months. Remix is also available to rent for private parties—if you schedule one, put me on the guest list!

📍222 N Guadalupe
Radio shows: mixcloud.com/rmxab