Try a kava, and relax, at new Auburn business Tribu

Auburn is about to have its first kava establishment. Tribu is located on High Street next to the Gold Country Mall. Business and life partners Carolina Restrepo and Caio Curt decided on Auburn for several reasons, notably because it's a small town, they love their downtown location and, according to Curt, "People are more chill, relaxed. We prefer this lifestyle." In other words, it's a perfect place to enjoy kava, a drink made with a combination of roots of the Hawaiian Islands. Said Restrepo, "We wanted a spot that people are walking around more than driving. That's what we love about Downtown Auburn. People are walking with the kids. "We're entrepreneurs trying to build a business. We hang out here in downtown. We come to the events," said Restrepo, who previously lived in Auburn after surviving the Camp Fire in Paradise. "Auburn was the first place I finally found a home after the fire." And it's just the place where Restrepo and Curt want to introduce kava, a growing culture in California but rare in the foothills. The two closest kava shops are in Roseville and Nevada City. Tribu, which means tribe, will offer spirits, mixers and different flavors, and can be served bottled, sparkling, on the rocks, as a tea and from a ceremonial coconut shell, made with traditional kava powder. Kava is non-alcoholic but is an 18-and-older drink. Drinks can come with different levels of kava. Tribu will also have "all kind of teas," Restrepo said, for people who don't drink kava but want another option. Tribu is comfy cozy inside. Tables, chairs and couches fill the room, and Restrepo and Curt are "working on the lighting," which was comfortably dim on the day the Auburn Journal visited. One corner of the room features a wall shelf with the word "Relax" in neon. It's just the atmosphere they're looking for. "We want to create an ambience that you can feel like you're in your house, sit down on a couch, chilling, having drinks, music," Restrepo said. "We have some books if you don't want to be on your phone. We also want to share the multi-cultural experience. Here, everybody is welcome – ethnicity, politician, anything, everything. We want to have that space for everybody to feel safe and enjoy, find friends and connect." Restrepo is originally from Colombia and Curt from Brazil, and they've lived much of their lives in the United States. They have 15 years of hospitality experience bussing and serving, bartending, catering and managing, including several years working at High Hand in Loomis. They also have a coffee business, also called Tribu, in Roseville. Restrepo and Curt have already become Auburn Chamber of Commerce members and have planned a ribbon-cutting ceremony in October, though they're hoping for a soft opening this week. They say kava is a challenge because it's a new idea for Auburn. "But also there's many people who already know about it," Restrepo said. "New generations, they don't want to drink (alcohol) as much. It's a good option for people who have that lifestyle. We can't wait to give all that experience to the town." Said Curt, "As the owners."