Ascension began in December 2012, after a year spent researching and developing the concept: an Australian style coffee shop with simple European-café-type food and a laid-back, familiar atmosphere. Russell Hayward, experienced restaurateur, lifetime espresso coffee lover, and founder of Ascension, developed this concept with the simple goal of elevating the everyday American café experience.

Russell grew up in Sydney, Australia in an era before technology zapped us of human interaction. Mealtime meant sitting around a big table with family, friends, fresh food, bantering, debating, and of course, throwing in lashings of sarcastic Australian humour (sic). In Australia, coffee was also more than consumable – it was an art, and it was a culture.

Thirty years, careers in advertising, design and rock ‘n roll, 2 nationalities, and thousands of espressos later, Russell moved to Dallas, TX to start a fourth career and the one that took him back to his childhood dreams- the restaurant business. After developing and operating restaurants, bars, and nightclubs for a decade, he wanted to try his hand in a new culinary genre. He wanted to create something he had struggled to find in Dallas, and honestly in the U.S. up until that point. A GREAT cup of coffee, in a warm, conversation filled environment.