New KC coffee shop is nonprofit, too. ‘Be in the neighborhood ... for the neighborhood’
There’s two key elements to Neighbors Coffee + Hospitality.
No. 1: Coffee.
When the cafe opens in Kansas City’s Marlborough Heights neighborhood later this year, it will serve specialty espresso drinks.
As for the “hospitality” aspect of the name?
Justin Roberts and his wife, Sam Roberts, are passionate about helping those in the foster care system. One of their three children — 8-year-old Zeke — is adopted. Roberts’ good friend from college also spent several years in the foster care system.
In addition to being a coffee shop, Neighbors is a nonprofit that will employ youth who are aging out of the foster care system. It will host financial literacy classes and train mentees to be successful adults.
“We’re passionate about coffee,” Justin said. “But more importantly we’re passionate about one, the foster care community, but then two, people feeling a sense of hospitality and being able to take that anywhere they go.”
Each year, 25,000 to 30,000 children age out of foster care, according to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health in 2013. Close to half of the young adults who participated in the study had been homeless at least once before the age of 26.
Justin hopes the spirit of loving and helping your neighbor will influence others to do the same.
Neighbors aims to open its spot at 8135 The Paseo in the next few months, though Roberts said the timeline is still loose.
Justin and Sam bought a house in the neighborhood in 2021 and have been dreaming of opening a coffee shop since 2022. The two fell in love with the businesses and people of Marlborough Heights.
Plus, they love a good cup of Joe. Neighbors has been roasting beans for about a year with the help of another couple who will help run the shop, Jordan and Sam Weaver.
Jordan used to work at Chingu Coffee, and Sam Weaver worked at Splitlog Coffee Co.
Their new shop will serve all the typical coffee shop drinks — cappuccinos, lattes — as well as some food items and pastries.
Neighbors will partner with foster care services and churches to find youth in need of its programs. Donations can be made through its website, neighborskc.coffee.
“Our goal is to train so they can take these skills anywhere, whether it’s college or another job,” Justin said.
The process to transform the former auto shop into a vibey space for neighbors is ongoing. Prospective customers can follow its progress online, through social media.
And while Justin is devoted to the mission of helping those who were in foster care, he wants the shop to be an inviting space for anyone who wants a quality cup of coffee.
“We’re really excited to be in the neighborhood and to be there for the neighborhood,” he said.