When is comes to community and serving the neighborhood well through the cafe, you’d be hard pressed to find a better example than Franny Lou’s Porch, in Philadelphia, PA.
Blew Kind began her entrepreneurial journey in 2010 with Leotah’s Place in North Philly then, moving across the street and renaming it, she established Franny Lou’s Porch. All along the way Blew’s goals have been to create an inclusive, loving and distinctly human coffee shop experience. With an emphasis on activism, health, and the history, art, and culture of the black community, Franny Lou’s Porch has been a dynamic for peace and change.
In today’s Founder Friday interview we are going to explore the genesis of Blew’s coffee career and also that of her shop and the challenges, lessons, and experiences that she has had seeing this vision into fruition.
This was a fantastic conversation and I hope it inspires you.
We discuss:
- Faith in your vision
- Setting up a board for accountability
- Serving community and co-creating the culture
- Starting again after moving locations
- Overcoming financial burdens
- Experiences of being taken advantage of
- Strength of vision but reliance on community
- The maternal, non-heirachical business model
- Discussing black owned business, wealth generation
- What can coffee do to be more accessible and equitable?
- Creating a place of humans and love
Links:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/franny-lous-porch-covid-relief
Related episodes:
230 : Making room for Community in your Shop
139 : Founder Friday w/ Kusanya Cafe co-founder, Phil Sipka
183 : Exploring Diversity w/ Phyllis Johnson
116 : Understanding Gentrification w/ Dr. Stacey Sutton
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