How Sandy’s Next Move Cafe Brings Coffee, Community, and Connection
Next Move Cafe is doing more than just serving drinks. Game On, Community Strong!
Next Move Cafe is building a neighborhood hub with engaging events, thoughtful marketing, and a menu that keeps evolving alongside Brooklyn’s culture.
Brewing a Vision in Brooklyn
Sandy, who co-owns and manages Next Move Cafe alongside her partner, transformed a casual interest in hospitality into a full-fledged community gathering spot in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. They’ve turned the cafe into much more than a coffee bar, hosting board game nights, after-school programming, and birthday parties that draw folks in for laughter, strategy, and connection.
The overall vibe is nostalgic, with cozy design touches that feel like a warm throwback to simpler times, making it the kind of space where neighbors naturally want to linger.
Tasty Basics with a Twist
Next Move Cafe brings back that old-school feeling—where you walk in, know what you want, and it still hits every time. The kimbap is a favorite across the board, with options like tuna, spam, kimchi, and even crispy shrimp, all wrapped up with warm rice and crunchy pickled radish. And then there’s the taro milk tea, smooth and creamy with just the right sweetness, the kind of drink people grew up on and still love today. It’s the kind of menu that feels familiar in the best way, but Sandy’s always working on new items to keep things interesting. It’s comfort food with small surprises, the way your favorite corner spot used to do it.
Marketing Rooted in Authenticity
Next Move Cafe’s following didn’t come from flashy ads. It grew through real conversations. Sandy began by sharing moments on Instagram, from game nights to café snapshots, but the real growth came when customers told their friends. People came for a kimbap lunch or a round of Uno and then brought someone new the next time. By leaning into community events and creating a space worth talking about, the cafe naturally became part of the local routine. For Sandy, building loyalty has always been more about relationships than reach.
Juggling Passion and Reality
“There’s never enough time,” Sandy admits, but that hasn’t stopped her passion from taking the lead. While still working as a lawyer, she juggles operations, events, and marketing at the cafe, finding herself pulled in a dozen directions every day. That balance is the hardest part, but also the most rewarding. Running Next Move gives her a way to connect with the neighborhood and turn a long-held dream into something real. It’s not always smooth sailing, but for Sandy, that’s what makes it meaningful.