The Red and Black Cafe is thriving one year after being forced out of our old location, and business is getting better every month! However, we reopened on a shoestring budget and we are still recovering from the costs associated with our move. We are also preparing for increased payroll expenses with Oregon minimum wage goes up in January!
Dear friends of the Red & Black Cafe,
We are pleased to announce that the Red & Black Cafe (a worker-owned, collectively-managed cafe and community space) is surviving and thriving 1 year after being forced out of our old location on SE Division.
We reopened at 400 SE 12th Avenue in January, and over the last 9 months we have sold untold amounts of coffee and black dragon noodles, acquired a beer & wine license and a brand new beer cooler (check out our selection of local microbrews!), and hosted lots of film screenings, music shows, and benefits for community organizations.
With each passing month, business has improved. We feel confidant that we will be able to provide empowering jobs, delicious vegan food, and a welcoming community space for years to come.
However, we are facing a few financial hurdles. We re-opened on a shoestring budget and we are still recovering from the costs of renovating and equipping our new space and renewing our licenses.
Also, Oregon minimum wage is going up by .45 per hour in January! On behalf of all low-wage workers in the state we celebrate the increase. Unfortunately, this will also increase our payroll expenses. Ultimately we hope to provide living wage jobs, but we are still struggling to balance this goal with our mission of providing ethical, high-quality food at working class prices.
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