Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jay @ Circle City Coffee on February 22, 2010 at 3:20am

Hi Miles,

Ken Julian I know had a cafe at a church, however, I am not sure if he still operates that location. He is both a roaster and shop owner (Eagle Creek Coffee Co) .... his website is http://www.juliancoffee.com

G'luck,
Jay

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by teresa pilarz on February 22, 2010 at 5:42am

You should check out http://www.anomalycoffee.com/. The person I met awhile back that was heading up the project was Jake.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mark Jackson on February 22, 2010 at 6:44am

Look here

http://www.southeastchristian.org/relationships/index.aspx?id=2186

http://www.cravestl.org/

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jeremy Perrine on February 22, 2010 at 7:56am

There's one in Houston that I know of.
The church is Ecclesia.
The shop is called Taft Street Coffee.
Don't have any contact for them though, sorry.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mitch Buckner - Bella Caffe on February 22, 2010 at 9:09am

We had a place in Memphis that was a church ministry that opened up a full time coffee shop but it wasnt in the church. It was just run by the youth volunteers & paid for by the church as a missions group. Stayed open for a while but has since closed. The guy that started kept the company & now roasts & sell coffes throughout other churchs & shops but he doesnt have a place anymore. My old church wanted to do this but they waited until they built out the new building to talk to me about it so they didnt build it how they needed it to be full time. I still helped them open up a coffee shop (small time) that was opened during Sunday, Wednesday & Friday night services but that was it. Nothing open out of church hours. But they originally wanted to that, they just didnt plan for it well enough! I've always wanted to do it & its still something I'll probably do in the future. Our original coffee shop was in our Christian bookstore so it was a full coffee shop & christian bookstore. Had that for about 13 years.

Mitch Buckner
Bella Caffe
Memphis, TN

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Banks Thomas on February 22, 2010 at 9:31am

Union Road Church of God has had a pretty nice full time cafe for years now. I don't have the contact but it in Gastonia, NC.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by MilesT on February 22, 2010 at 10:06am

Thanks for all your replies. Our church already has a pretty decked out cafe ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/38818386@N03/4379034503/ ) which sees a LOT of business over the weekends, however we've talked for the last year about what it would look like to open it up full time. Our main concern is not if it would succeed but how it would affect our tax exempt status. I'm just trying to contact other churches to see how they've dealt with this issue before! Thanks again! ANy other leads would be great.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Joseph Robertson on February 22, 2010 at 10:08am

Miles,
Great topic. I roast for several churches and groups locally. They serve during services and give fresh roasted bags to new comers. My best cafe customers are the local churches. I seem to have become a common denominator in our local small community. I visit all of them and have no permanent affiliation with any single church. Seems our shop has become a common ground for all.
All this has had me toying with the idea of my next location being named "The Church of Joe" =^).
Extra big smiley.
JoeR
--
Ambassador for Specialty Coffee and palate reform.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jonathan Pascual on February 22, 2010 at 12:11pm

The first shop I ran was owned by a 501c3 nonprofit. We were a full-time specialty coffee bar and everything. They didn't seem to have any problems with it affecting tax-exempt status, but we did have some auditors check everything out at some point - they looked at everything from cash register to deposits and bank accounts. Lots of nonprofits have essentially profit-making business arms (like Habitat for Humanity's ReStores, Goodwill, or Salvation Army). If it's specifically the tax status questions that you have, your best bet is probably to talk with an accountant or lawyer.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Eric Hammond on February 22, 2010 at 1:48pm

South East Christian in Louisville Kentucky has one. I think it's called something like Cafe 920 I believe. Address is 920 Blankenbaker parkway. I know the guy who runs it, but I know nothing about their business. Might try talking to them. Their church has like 15,000 people per service, per sunday.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jeremy Conley on February 22, 2010 at 2:11pm

Rohs Street Cafe — link

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Matt Busby on February 23, 2010 at 8:02am

Q Cafe is run by Quest Church up in Seattle. They do an amazing job supporting non-profits, creating an inviting third place environment, and still keep an eye on coffee quality and excellence!

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page