Why Sunnyslope?

Coming into this new space was both overwhelming and exciting, Chris recalls. There was a lot of work that needed to be done before they could open their doors. The floors, plumbing, bathroom and electrical all needed to be fixed. People from the community chipped in to help Cultivate become what it is today. A friend of the Priebes came out and painted the shop for free, while others donated furniture. Six months later Cultivate celebrated its opening day. 

“We didn’t want it to feel like you’re walking into a nonprofit,” Bethany says while proudly glancing around the shop. “We didn’t want it to have donated furniture and subpar drinks like some may expect from a nonprofit. We wanted someone who may not know our story to walk in and be shocked that we are a nonprofit because we meet the quality and level of professionalism of a craft coffee shop.”  

The Priebes felt as if they had a duty to take care of the community their shop benefits from. Nestled between million-dollar homes and methadone clinics, Cultivate serves as a place for everyone. Within the same hour, a lawyer and a person experiencing homelessness could both be in Cultivate enjoying a cup of coffee. 

“There is so much diversity in Sunnyslope,” says Chris. “That can be a hard thing, but we think it can also be very beautiful.” 

From the beginning, Cultivate has had an outpouring of community support. When a chain coffee shop opened in the same strip mall, regular and new customers alike came to Cultivate on the other shop’s opening day. They wanted to show support for the local small business, according to Chris.  

The youth at the shop spend time building relationships with the customers. They get to share their stories and become friends. It is a great way for them to build communication skills. 

Devontae Reed first stopped in to Cultivate by accident. One day on his drive to work, the Starbucks he normally went to was closed. He decided to stop at a mom-and-pop coffee shop, which happened to be Cultivate. After trying their famous Kentucky Joe cold brew, Reed, a cold brew connoisseur, was hooked. The attention to detail is what caught his eye first. 

“It's the little things,” says Reed. “When you make your own breakfast you pay attention to how much salt you use. It’s the little things that matter. Big chains can’t focus on the small things because the drinks need to be the same at every location.” 

Now a regular for almost two years, Reed has not only developed a deep admiration for the Kentucky Joe cold brew, but also for the Cultivate community. He comes to get his Kentucky Joe almost every morning before work to kick off the day. After work, you might find him getting his second cold brew of the day and chatting with the staff and other regulars at Cultivate. 

“I love these people,” says Reed. “I wish I had a place to come to like this when I was younger.”