Keep Meek Open
Donation protected
To the local community, The Meek House coffee shop located in the Mountain Grove Plaza in Redlands, CA, is different in many ways. It is family- owned and operated by first generation American women from Romanian immigrants (who like to eat pastries and drink coffee) and secondly, it is known that we have one mission in mind: to spread kindness through humility, one coffee cup at a time. Baristas and owners work alongside each other behind our bar and within our walls. To many, The Meek House is truly a home away from home.
As of March 19, 2020 our coffee house suffered a great loss in sales (approximately 85%) due to COVID-19 and the Governor's order to "shelter in place." Baristas were furloughed overnight and our doors closed for 3 days until our family/ owners created new ways to safely serve our community, work to keep our doors open, and ultimately hire each barista back. Since then, our family ensured our furloughed baristas were compensated, and solely volunteered behind bar, making local deliveries, roasting coffee, to maximize funds for overhead (rent, utilities, supplies, etc).
April 1st came and went and we are short money for rent. We've attempted to negotiate with property management, to figure out a payment plan, and yet no mercy has been shown. To them our efforts lack money, our only binding word to the lease. We've applied for federal grants, we've applied for small business loans (awaiting approval), we've put every tip we've received in the last 2 weeks towards our monthly payment, and it's still not enough.
Our shop mantra has always been: stay humble, be kind, drink coffee... and we have truly been humbled by this unprecedented experience. We are at a loss-- a loss for money, a loss for words. This is new to us. Asking for help to pay for something we feel is our sole responsibility, our dream, is something we never planned. If this is the end to our dream of creating a home away from home, a positive place to work, a place of ministry, our efforts have truly been exhausted and our plan is not part of the bigger plan.
We are a family rooted in hope and faith and we believe our community will rally for us to continue to spread kindness through humility, one cup at a time... We thank you for your contribution to keep our doors open for another 3 months, to recreate lost jobs, and restore our "home."
#SmallBusinessRelief
As of March 19, 2020 our coffee house suffered a great loss in sales (approximately 85%) due to COVID-19 and the Governor's order to "shelter in place." Baristas were furloughed overnight and our doors closed for 3 days until our family/ owners created new ways to safely serve our community, work to keep our doors open, and ultimately hire each barista back. Since then, our family ensured our furloughed baristas were compensated, and solely volunteered behind bar, making local deliveries, roasting coffee, to maximize funds for overhead (rent, utilities, supplies, etc).
April 1st came and went and we are short money for rent. We've attempted to negotiate with property management, to figure out a payment plan, and yet no mercy has been shown. To them our efforts lack money, our only binding word to the lease. We've applied for federal grants, we've applied for small business loans (awaiting approval), we've put every tip we've received in the last 2 weeks towards our monthly payment, and it's still not enough.
Our shop mantra has always been: stay humble, be kind, drink coffee... and we have truly been humbled by this unprecedented experience. We are at a loss-- a loss for money, a loss for words. This is new to us. Asking for help to pay for something we feel is our sole responsibility, our dream, is something we never planned. If this is the end to our dream of creating a home away from home, a positive place to work, a place of ministry, our efforts have truly been exhausted and our plan is not part of the bigger plan.
We are a family rooted in hope and faith and we believe our community will rally for us to continue to spread kindness through humility, one cup at a time... We thank you for your contribution to keep our doors open for another 3 months, to recreate lost jobs, and restore our "home."
#SmallBusinessRelief
Organizer
Gianna Radoi
Organizer
Redlands, CA