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Walk into any Sip & Savor location, and you’ll find more than just a coffee shop—you’ll find a community. From Hyde Park to Bronzeville, the rich aroma of premium coffee blends with the sounds of laughter, debate, and connection.
Founded in 2005 by Trez Pugh III, Sip & Savor was never just about selling coffee. One of its most significant locations is housed in the historic Rosenwald Court Apartments in Bronzeville, a building that once sheltered legends like Nat "King" Cole, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Quincy Jones. Opening a shop in such a storied space reinforced Pugh’s mission—not just to sell coffee but to preserve and contribute to the rich cultural legacy of Chicago’s Black community. It was about creating a space where young professionals, retirees, students, and artists could gather, network, and feel at home. Since its inception, the business has employed over 200 people, many of whom credit Pugh for giving them their first real opportunity.
“Our slogan is ‘Where Coffee and Community Meet,’” Pugh says. “Because at the end of the day, it’s bigger than coffee. It’s about bringing people together.”
The Path to PurposeBecoming Chicago’s ‘Mocha Man’ wasn’t easy. His life, like many others, has been marked by challenges, moments of uncertainty, and near-fatal experiences. Yet, through it all, he has remained steadfast in his commitment to service—both to his business and to the people who depend on it. "I don’t complain. I just go harder," he says—a simple yet powerful mantra that has defined his path.
His story starts long before Sip & Savor. Growing up in Chicago, he understood struggle early. From his parents, he learned the value of hard work and responsibility. His first major test of perseverance came when he became a father at 17. “People thought my life was over,” he recalls. “But I knew I had to step up. I had to be more.” That determination would become a defining trait, fueling his every move forward.
Not long after, he found himself at a crossroads. Walking down State Street, he was stopped by a Marine recruiter. “Hey, you ever thought about the military?” the recruiter asked. At first, Pugh brushed him off. But something about the encounter stuck with him. “I went home and thought about my future. I had a son now. I needed stability, discipline, and a way to provide.” The next day, he walked back into that office and signed up. “I didn’t know what I was getting into,” he admits. “But I knew I had to make a change.”
Shortly after enlisting, he married his high school sweetheart, Lisa, and was stationed in Japan with the Marine Corps. The distance was unbearable. “For the first few months, it was hell,” he recalls. “I was training, missing my mom, missing my girl, missing my son. I was losing my mind.” Every penny he could save, he saved—until he was able to fly his wife and son to Japan.
But what awaited them wasn’t easy. “We lived in a studio the size of a bathroom,” he says. “No running water, no stove, no toilet—just a hot plate and a bucket.” Money was tight. After paying for the essentials, he sometimes had only $20 left to last two weeks. “There were times I wouldn’t eat so they could,” he admits, his voice thick with emotion. “They never knew. Only my therapist knows.” He would leave home before they woke up, checking the fridge and seeing little more than baking soda, water, and leftovers. “I used to joke that when you open the fridge, the light blinds you because there ain’t no food in there to block it,” he says. “People laughed. They didn’t know I was talking about myself.”
The struggle didn’t break him—it made him. He hustled harder, asked questions, and sought opportunities. Eventually, he found secondary work as a security guard at a local club, while Lisa got a job at the USO. Promotions followed. He went from earning $400 a month to nearly doubling it, then added another $700 from his side job. Lisa brought in $500. “We went from nothing to everything overnight,” he says. They moved into a two-bedroom apartment with a tennis court on the roof. “I bought an RX-7, a motorcycle, and another car to rent out to other Marines for extra income,” he recalls. “We had built something for ourselves.”
They extended their stay in Japan, growing their finances and strengthening their marriage. “We had no friends, no outside influences. It was just us, figuring it out. That’s why we’re still together 42 years later,” he says. “We learned how to weather storms—together.”
The young family eventually returned to the States, and Pugh went back to the post office, now making over $80,000 a year thanks to relentless overtime. He climbed the ranks quickly, managing operations across multiple locations. But ambition gnawed at him. “I always worked myself out of a job,” he says. “I didn’t just want to do the work—I wanted to make things better.”
His reputation for efficiency led to promotions and, eventually, recruitment into federal service. In 1999, he became a federal agent, handling high-profile cases involving fraud, drug busts, and organized crime.
In 2004, a Life-Changing EncounterIn 2004, Pugh was investing in real estate when he was approached about opening a coffee shop. “At first, I wasn’t even interested. I didn’t drink coffee,” he admits. “But I had the space, and I wanted to give people in the community something special.”
That same year, tragedy struck. While stopping for gas at 87th and the Dan Ryan, Pugh was ambushed by a carjacker. “I heard a pop, and my ankle buckled,” he recalls. “I thought a car backfired—until I turned around and saw the gun pointed at me.”
What happened next felt like slow motion. Unable to reach his weapon in time, Pugh grabbed the gas nozzle and sprayed fuel at the attacker. The assailant fired again, igniting the gas into a fireball. “We both got singed. I hit the ground, trying to get to my gun. By the time I got my hand on it, he was gone.”
At first, he didn’t even realize he had been shot in the chest. “I looked down, and there was just smoke coming out of two holes. No blood—just smoke. It smelled like burnt steak.”
Paramedics arrived and began treating him. “They told me I was about to go into cardiac arrest and would be unconscious soon,” he remembers. “That’s when I finally gave up my gun. That’s how stubborn I was.” He survived the shooting, but the experience shifted his perspective. “That moment changed me,” he says. “I knew I was meant to do something bigger.”
As if life hadn’t tested him enough, Pugh was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2022—the same disease that claimed his father and brother. “July 17th—I’ll never forget that date,” he says. He underwent surgery and emerged cancer-free. “I knocked on wood and kept pushing forward.”
Impact Steeped in CommunityThrough it all, Sip & Savor became more than just a business—it became a symbol of resilience, growth, and community. It has provided jobs for over 200 people, many of whom got their first shot at employment through Pugh. “I see myself in the young people I hire. I know what it’s like to need just one shot, one opportunity to change everything,” he says. “It’s not just about selling coffee—it’s about changing lives.”
Sip & Savor’s impact has grown steadily since its opening, expanding across Chicago and becoming a cornerstone for culture, networking, and community engagement. “I didn’t want just another coffee shop. I wanted a place where people could come together, connect, and feel like they belonged,” Pugh says. With each new location, he has reinforced his commitment to providing opportunities, particularly for young people looking for their first jobs. “It’s about more than just coffee—it’s about giving people a place to grow.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic threatened to close his doors, Pugh refused to back down. “It was about survival, but it was also about not letting down the community that had supported us,” he says. “That was one of the hardest times in my life. Every day, I was figuring out how to pay my employees, how to keep the lights on, how to survive. People were scared, business was slow, but I wasn’t going to let this place go under.” His ability to adapt and lead through uncertainty cemented his status as a staple in the Chicago business community. “We made it through, and now we’re stronger than ever.”
Much like the rich, hot coffee served in his six locations—Bronzeville, Hyde Park, Rosenwald, Chicago State University, Matteson, and Edgewater—Pugh continues to pour into his community, fueling those around him with his vision, perseverance, and dedication. His life embodies the words of the poem The Measure of a Man:
"Not—'How did he die?' But—'How did he live?'Not—'What did he gain?' But—'What did he give?'"
Every challenge he faced, every lesson he learned, and every sacrifice he made has shaped not only his own destiny but also the futures of those who walk through the doors of Sip & Savor. Pugh has given more than most of us who have followed his rise ever knew. His evolution has been one of grit and an unshakable commitment to service—whether through law enforcement, federal service, or behind the counter of a coffee shop that has become a sanctuary for so many.
The lessons he learned—of hunger, discipline, and loss—have shaped the man who stands today, unbowed by the past and relentless in his pursuit of a better future for his people. “You think losing everything will destroy you, but sometimes, it forces you to build something even greater,” he reflects. “I’ve been broke. I’ve been shot. I’ve been knocked down more times than I can count. But I always get back up. Because there’s always someone watching, someone counting on me to keep going. And I will.”
Pugh's story is proof that when a man commits himself fully—to his family, his business, and his community—he creates a legacy that outlives him. A legacy that, much like a perfectly brewed cup of coffee, warms, energizes, and inspires those it touches.