Jonathan Thomas
Jonathan Thomas,
A closed coffee shop that had been a central gathering place for the Ferguson community is preparing to re-open in March as a space for connection and conversation. In 2019, Civil Righteousness, a non-profit founded by Jonathan Thomas, purchased the building. Today, they have renovated the coffee shop and cafe, added an art gallery designed for contemplation, as well as a commercial commissary kitchen which will offer affordable space to local food entrepreneurs. A mentorship program for local entrepreneurs will help revitalize the Ferguson community through economic growth.
About Jonathan Thomas:
Jonathan (JT) Thomas is a social activist, conflict resolution specialist, and master coffee roaster. Raised in the southern foothills of NC as a fifth generation preacher’s kid, Jonathan is the grand-nephew of the late Civil Rights activist and music legend Dr. Nina Simone. Jonathan found his voice in peacemaking and community reconciliation. Trained and experienced in gang violence intervention, he moved to Ferguson after the civil unrest of 2014 and founded the non-profit civilrighteousness.
The Garden Studio+Cafe+Kitchen
Located at 100 N. Florissant Road in Ferguson, MO in the space that previously housed the Corner Coffee Shop, The Garden will continue to serve as a local coffee shop with a robust coffee program and will offer an in-house menu focused on fresh, healthy ingredients. Outdoor options include a lineup of food trucks in the parking lot.
The Garden also offers a resource for culinary entrepreneurs. The Garden Kitchen provides commerical commissary kitchen access and food industry education for small businesses and food entrepreneurs. For everyday operations, Civil Righteousness has partnered with Soulcial Kitchen, which provides assistance to food trucks and other food startups. on other campuses.
A primary focus of the The Garden is to address economic insecurity and food inequity in the Ferguson and North County areas. The Garden Cafe and Kitchen will provide local, healthy food and fresh roasted coffee for Ferguson residents while a mentorship program will encourage budding local entrepreneurs with training in basic business education, food safety, and more. The Spark Tank mentorship program will be taught by Benedictine College School of Business professors and other content experts.
Food trucks and other small food businesses also have the opportunity for rental access to The Garden’s commissary kitchen at hourly, daily, and monthly rates.
The Garden also provides a place for prayer/ meditation, learning and creativity in the IMAGO DEI GALLERY. Curated with original art pieces, images, and historical artifacts through rotating exhibits, it supports The Garden’s function as an “interpretation center” in the heart of Ferguson. In the dedicated room for comtemplation, visitors can engage in self-guided tours of the exhibits which include prompts for prayer and meditation.
