We wrote about The Roosevelt Coffeehouse back in February when we first heard about this new nonprofit cafe with a social justice concept, and at that time, there was no brick-and-mortar location confirmed. As of yesterday, the business is one step closer to opening with the announcement that it would be arriving this fall at 300 East Long Street in Downtown’s Discovery District .
“In February, The Roosevelt Coffeehouse was hosting The Justice Conference Columbus satellite, but the place we were to host it at fell through at the last minute,” explains owner Kenny Sipes on his personal blog. “So, as fate would have it, 300 Long Street opened their doors to us and we held the conference there. This helped us to develop our relationship with the owners and for us to bring The Roosevelt to the community. The rest of the journey is all the tedious details and contract stuff that do not relate to an interesting story… the interesting part is we are at this point and it is full speed ahead.”
Sipes explains that he was at first wary about the location due to the close proximity of a planned Cafe Brioso expansion that was announced as opening this summer. But after visiting the space and developing a vision for the shop, the location made the most sense for their project.
“This space has it all,” wrote Sipes. “A parking lot — a rarity Downtown — it has a 450 square foot side room ideal for private meetings, it has a 400 square foot patio ideal for the camper who loves the outdoors, it has plumbing where we would need to run it, concrete floors, brick walls, a full stage set up and theater-style seating for 180 people.”
The timeline for opening is relatively quick, with a project August opening. Being a nonprofit, Sipes is soliciting donations on his website via paypal, and asking friends, family and fans to support their cause.
For more information, visit www.kennysipes.com and www.rooseveltcoffee.org.