By SILVIA ZOLFANELLI, Four Points News

For nearly 19 years, Cups & Cones has been more than a coffee and ice cream shop — it’s been a gathering place, a second home, and the heart of Steiner Ranch. On October 18, the community came together one last time to celebrate 19 years of friendship, laughter, and shared memories before this beloved local spot closes its doors. 

But how did it all start? How did River Place couple Kristi and Rick Nordin manage to turn a simple coffee shop into the heartbeat of an entire neighborhood? 

The story goes that, years ago, during a family vacation in Port Aransas, the Nordins wanted to take their kids out for ice cream—but couldn’t find a place. Realizing there wasn’t a neighborhood ice cream shop in North Austin either, Rick decided to turn the idea into a business plan for his MBA project. Kristi, on the other hand, envisioned a cozy space where busy working moms like her could sit down, grab a coffee, mingle, and unwind while their little ones had room to play and laugh. 

It was 2007—and Cups & Cones was born. 

After about a year, the Nordins felt they had built a loyal customer base. Back then, Steiner was much smaller than it is today, but that didn’t stop Rick and Kristi from thinking big. They asked themselves: What else could we do for the community? 

The first idea came from a small three-piece jazz band that played in the corner of the shop and drew in more customers. Rick thought, if a little music could bring people together, maybe Steiner was ready for a real concert. It was an entirely new venture for them, but the Nordins rallied fellow small businesses to chip in and bring the idea to life. They raised $8,000, and one home builder donated the wood to build a small stage. 

The very first Concert in the Park was a success. The people of Steiner wanted more, and soon Taylor Morrison and the HOA saw the potential and got involved. Over the years, the project was handed to the HOA, which continues to host the concerts for ever-growing crowds. 

Reflecting on that first concert, Rick and Kristi realized that the people of Steiner Ranch were craving a sense of community—places, events, and opportunities to gather, meet neighbors, and spend quality time together. So, in 2009, they launched the Farmers Market. Every Sunday morning, local vendors would set up their stands to serve the community. The turnout was strong, the idea inspiring—but with a growing business to run and Rick’s full-time job requiring international travel, the Nordins decided to hand over the organization to Steiner resident Richie Romero. He nurtured the idea into what is now the Lone Star Farmers Market, which still takes place every other Thursday in the Cups & Cones lower parking lot.

Looking back, Rick admitted they didn’t have enough time to fully develop either idea, but their goal was always to create events that would become community traditions—and they succeeded by empowering others to continue them. 

Community was always at the core of the Cups & Cones philosophy. Rick and Kristi supported every idea that could benefit Steiner as a whole. You could see it in the artwork on the walls by local artists, in the handmade cards and crochet amigurumis for sale, in the shelves filled with 

locally roasted coffee, pecans, jewelry, and fashion accessories from small businesses. You could see it in the photos of neighborhood kids eating ice cream, taken by local photographer Paula Albee in 2015. You could see it on the “take one, leave one” book wall for both kids and adults, and in Storytime with Mr. Rudy—the beloved, playful man with a guitar who entertained children with unforgettable songs and stories. 

Whatever the community wanted, Cups & Cones offered. They hosted kids’ art classes, adult furniture makeovers, chess clubs, and cookie and cupcake decorating sessions. They also opened their doors to Homework Help sponsored by Viper Nation Education Foundation, which held free homework help sessions where high schoolers tutored elementary students—teaching by example that giving back starts early and inspiring future teens to do the same. From study sessions to social meetups, Cups & Cones became the place where connections bloomed—hosting everything from Girl Scouts meetings and Steiner Coffee Gals to knitting and crochet circles. 

They also became known for their special community events, such as the unforgettable Christmas Eve Pancake Breakfast, and for supporting countless good causes—food drives, diaper drives, and school fundraisers. And when they couldn’t host, Rick and Kristi still found ways to help. How many parents remember Kristi volunteering as a spelling bee judge at local schools, or Rick showing up with jugs of hot cocoa for elementary schools holiday parties and Girl Scout events? 

But they didn’t stop there. They wanted to do something truly meaningful to fight food insecurity in the community. So, they founded the Cups & Cones Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing hot, nutritious meals for those in need—including the Community First Dinners organized by Laney Lyons to benefit residents of the Community First Village, an initiative that Steiner Ranch continues to support generously. 

Cups & Cones was always more than just a coffee shop. With devotion, generosity, empathy, and vision, Rick and Kristi made it a home away from home for countless families—a place to gather, share memories, and teach kindness (with a side of ice cream). 

Steiner Ranch will not be the same once those doors close. But the heart and spirit that Cups & Cones helped create will live on—and we’ll be waiting patiently to see where the next chapter takes the Nordins.

Community members submitted photos from their events at Cups & Cones: