Saba Surf Cafe in Venice, California, has seen a notable surge in customers since its co-owner, Gal Tshnieder, joined the cast of "Love Island USA" Season 8. The cafe has hosted watch parties for the popular reality dating series, drawing crowds of fans eager to experience the show's atmosphere communally. Organizers report that customer numbers have doubled since Tshnieder's appearance on the show.
The cafe, described as a California-based surf lifestyle brand, also offers merchandise and operates as a coffee bar. It began as an online surf wax business in 2022 before expanding into a retail and community space. Tshnieder co-owns the business with his ex-girlfriend, Laura Quintana.
Fans are making treks to the cafe specifically because of Tshnieder's involvement. "As soon as I watched the show and heard Gal describe it, I knew exactly what coffee shop it was, and I saw that they had watch parties," said Claire Belhamer, who traveled from Pasadena. Another attendee, Rachael Chang, noted the publicity generated by the show, stating, "I mean, that’s pretty good publicity right there."
The watch parties, held in the cafe's backyard with a projector and screen, have created a lively environment. "I was watching it alone on my couch at home before, and so this is just a much more fun vibe. Like everyone’s yaying and booing, and it’s a blast," Belhamer added. The events have also attracted individuals who may not be avid viewers but are drawn by the show's buzz and the owner's participation. "I've always, seen so much hype with Love Island. Knowing, the coffee owner is on it — it’s really cool," said MJ O’Keefe.
While Tshnieder's initial "California-surfer aesthetic" gained attention, his on-screen actions have also generated discussion. His handling of romantic connections within the villa has faced backlash from viewers and even his own family. In response to one controversial interaction, Saba Surf Cafe employees created a video offering free drinks to anyone named Jen, who was Tshnieder's initial partner on the show. His siblings have also created an Instagram account dedicated to commenting on his behavior.
Despite the on-screen drama, the cafe is capitalizing on the increased visibility. A recent watch party also featured a night market with sponsors such as Olipop and E.L.F. "I’m glad to see they’re getting some hype and some business because they have great coffee," said Venice resident Emma Rudder. "I definitely think they’re getting some hype because of the show, but they were always pretty popping before. They do some really great events here."
"Love Island USA" Season 8 airs on Peacock, with the finale scheduled for July 12. Saba Surf Cafe continues to leverage Tshnieder's reality TV stint to draw customers.