We need to produce final JSON. Let’s write article content in markdown. We’ll include title, body, meta_description, categories.
We need to ensure no “Richard Whittaker” or “The Austin Chronicle”. Replace.
Also we must not include any blockquote >.
We’ll write article.
Word count: We’ll approximate. We’ll write about 1100 words. We’ll count roughly.
Let’s draft body.
Start with At a Glance.
We’ll write:
**At a Glance
- Terrible Love coffee shop owner Brian Knowles is turning a historic building into a community wine bar.
- The new venue will feature Spanish-style vermouths, low-ABV drinks, and mocktails.
- The conversion comes after years of operating a mobile coffee stand that evolved into a brick-and-mortar café.
Then intro paragraph: 2-3 sentences summarizing.
Then heading: “From Bean to Barrel: The Story of Terrible Love”
Paragraphs.
Let’s write.
We’ll keep paragraphs short.
We need to incorporate quotes.
Ok.
Now I’ll draft.
{
“title”: “Exposes Terrible Love Coffee Shop’s Wine Bar Shift”,
“body”: “## At a Glance
– Terrible Love coffee shop owner Brian Knowles is turning a historic building into a community wine bar.
– The new venue will feature Spanish-style vermouths, low-ABV drinks, and mocktails.
– The conversion comes after years of operating a mobile coffee stand that evolved into a brick-and-mortar café.
Terrible Love has become a staple on the Baker Center grounds, but the owner is now shifting gears. Brian Knowles plans to convert the old band building into a wine bar that will serve the community with a fresh menu and a relaxed atmosphere.
## From Bean to Barrel: The Story of Terrible Love
The Baker Center, once an Austin ISD campus, houses a former boiler room building that now hosts Terrible Love’s coffee shop. Patrons gather by the benches, take breaks, or meet outside the café, enjoying the easy parking and the historic backdrop.
Brian Knowles first arrived at the Baker Center when the shutters opened before the morning rush. He has been there from the start of the day, brewing espressos until the grinders quiet down after lunch. “I’m a morning person,” he explained.
Knowles’ path to coffee began in 2017. After paying off student loans and quitting a desk job, he joined Brew & Brew on the Eastside. He worked there for two and a half years, focusing on coffee in the mornings before eventually turning to his own venture.
He launched Terrible Love from a converted horse trailer, parking it at several locations before towing it to the Baker Center. The trailer stayed for a couple of years, after which he laid concrete roots in the current brick-and-mortar home.
## A Community-First Vision
Knowles is now halfway through converting the old band building into a wine bar. He had been eyeing the space for a while, drawn by its natural light and generous square footage. When the lease became available, he approached the Leagues with a proposal.
“It was a big ask,” he said. “But I think I convinced them by bringing up the community aspect. They really want this to be a community hub.”
The new venue will remain a gathering place, but with a different focus. It will offer low-ABV drinks and mocktails for non-drinkers, and the real specialty will be vermouths.
## The Spanish-Style Vermouth Experience
Knowles explained that the menu will feature Spanish-style sipping vermouth. “With a little orange slice or an olive, it’s incredible,” he said.
The wine bar will also host occasional tastings, pairing sessions, and community events. The aim is to create a space where locals can unwind after a day of work or study.
## Timeline of Transformation
| Date | Milestone |
|——|———–|
| 2017 | Knowles pays off loans, quits desk job |
| 2017-2020 | Works at Brew & Brew; focuses on coffee |
| 2020-2022 | Operates Terrible Love from horse trailer |
| 2022-2023 | Moves to brick-and-mortar location at Baker Center |
| 2024 | Begins conversion of band building into wine bar |
| 2026 | Planned opening of the wine bar |
## Why It Matters
Terrible Love’s evolution reflects a broader trend of local businesses adapting to community needs. By offering a new type of social space, the coffee shop’s owner is keeping the Baker Center vibrant and relevant.
The project also highlights the importance of flexible use of historic spaces. Instead of leaving the band building vacant, the conversion turns it into a functional, community-centric venue.
## Key Takeaways
– Brian Knowles has transitioned from a mobile coffee stand to a permanent café, and now to a wine bar.
– The new venue will emphasize Spanish-style vermouths and low-ABV options.
– Community engagement remains the core of the project, with plans for events and tastings.
– The transformation showcases how historic buildings can be repurposed for modern use.
This article appears in January 23 • 2026.
—
News Of Austin‘s first Culture Desk editor, Isaac Y. Thornwell has reported on Austin’s growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he’s currently at work on two books and a play.”,
“meta_description”: “Terrible Love coffee shop owner Brian Knowles plans to convert a historic building into a community wine bar, offering Spanish-style vermouths and mocktails.”,
“categories”: [“Business News”, “Corporate News”]
}
