Spotlight on Creative Cafe: Brewing Community in Seattle's Central District

Today, we're shining a spotlight on a unique coffee shop in the heart of Seattle's Central District: Creative Cafe. Housed within the historic Washington Hall, Creative Cafe is more than just a place to grab a latte. It's a vibrant community space with a powerful mission.

A Partnership with Purpose

Creative Cafe is a collaboration between Black Power Unlimited (BPU) and Creative Justice (CJ). This partnership aims to empower young people involved with Creative Justice by providing them with valuable job skills and a supportive environment. As Dan Bash, the Director of Creative Cafe, explains, "Creative Cafe is a program that was created by Creative Justice to help young people who've gone through the programming at Creative Justice transition and be offered them a place to basically learn how to be an adult work and job, they have a safe space where they can learn and develop the skills they need to survive in the real world, in a safe and comfortable environment."

More Than Just Coffee

While Creative Cafe offers a delicious array of coffee drinks, including signature creations by their talented baristas, the program goes far beyond that. "We also will offer them training and how to have interviews, build a resume. We offer them support and finding housing and stuff like that, and we just hold space for the community at large," says Bash. The cafe opened its doors on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2024 and has quickly become a hub for community connection.

A Sensory Experience

The barista training program at Creative Cafe is unique and comprehensive. Bash utilizes a "sense-based training" method, encouraging interns to engage their senses of smell, sight, and taste to perfect their craft. "So it's a sense-based training. So use your ears, your eyes and your nose and your taste to develop to know how to do the coffee and pull good shots steam, good milk and that type of thing," he explains. This approach, combined with technical training, ensures that the interns develop a deep understanding and appreciation for the art of coffee making.

A Space for Everyone

Creative Cafe is open to the public and welcomes everyone to experience its warm and inviting atmosphere. Whether you're a coffee aficionado or simply looking for a place to connect with others, Creative Cafe has something to offer. And with affordable prices, it's accessible to all. As Bash emphasizes, "Our prices are affordable because any profit we make goes back into the nonprofit, so there's not a heavy drive to pay rent, generate revenue, all that type of things."

Visit Creative Cafe

Creative Cafe is located at the historic Washington Hall building in Seattle's Central District on 14th and Fir. They're open Monday through Friday, 7 am to 3 pm. Stop by, grab a coffee, and experience the vibrant community spirit that makes Creative Cafe so special.

In their own words: "Hi, I'm Dan bash. Welcome to Creative cafe."