The Courtyard Got an Upgrade — And You’re Going to Want to Come See It

There’s a version of JT Trading Post where you walk in, grab what you came for, and leave. That version still exists. But there’s a new version now too — one where you walk in, find a seat in the courtyard, order a matcha, and look up an hour later wondering where the time went.

That’s what we were going for. That’s what we built.

What’s New

The courtyard has been completely reimagined — and the word that keeps coming up when people walk in for the first time is oasis. Which is exactly right. The high desert already has the sky and the boulders and the light. We added the rest.

Boulders and plants have been brought in to give the space texture and depth — the kind of landscaping that doesn’t look like landscaping, it looks like the desert decided to make itself comfortable right here on Twentynine Palms Highway. Desert plants, native succulents, greenery that belongs in this landscape and thrives in it. The result is a courtyard that feels lush and alive in the specific, restrained way that only desert spaces can.

The seating is plentiful and intentional. Comfortable chairs, tables, shaded spots, and enough space to spread out — whether you’re here alone with your phone face-down and a drink in your hand or with a group that wants to stay a while. The design invites the kind of slow, unhurried visit that the desert itself invites. There’s no reason to rush. We’ve made sure of that.

The Mojave Matcha Bar

The bar is the centerpiece. We now serve coffee and matcha at the Mojave Matcha bar — a proper beverage experience right here in the courtyard, surrounded by plants and boulders and the sound of the market on a Saturday morning.

Mojave Matcha started as a concept and became something real, and the courtyard is where it lives. Pull up a seat, order a matcha latte or a coffee, and drink it outside in the desert air. On a cool October morning, or a warm spring afternoon, or a cold December day when the Christmas trees are out and the whole courtyard smells like pine — there’s no better place to be in Joshua Tree than right here.

The Photo Booth

We have a photo booth. It’s exactly as fun as it sounds and it gets used constantly — families, couples, groups of friends, market vendors at the end of a long Saturday. A built-in reason to mark the moment and take something home that isn’t a souvenir from the gift section.

Stop by and take a photo. The desert makes a great backdrop and the booth delivers.

The Vendors

The outdoor market has always run Saturday and Sunday mornings — that hasn’t changed. What’s changed is the space it runs in. The upgraded courtyard gives vendors a better environment and gives visitors a better reason to linger. Shop a vendor, get a matcha, find a seat, listen to whatever’s playing, and let the morning happen at its own pace.

Local makers show up every weekend. Handmade jewelry, art, ceramics, clothing, plants, food goods, and things that don’t fit into any category because they were made by someone with a specific vision. The market is better when the space around it is better. And the space is better now.

Come See It

The courtyard renovation isn’t something that translates fully through a phone screen. It’s something you feel when you walk in — the way the light hits the plants, the way the boulders anchor the space, the way a cup of matcha tastes better when you’re drinking it outside in a place that was designed to make you want to stay.

Come in any day of the week. Weekdays noon to 5, weekends 9 to 5. Find a seat. Stay longer than you planned. That’s the whole idea.

JT Trading Post | 61716 Twentynine Palms Hwy, Joshua Tree, CA | Open 7 days a week
jttradingpost.com