THE WAY CAFÉ

the story behind

Our story begins with a conversation between long-time friends. Bryant Martin, of Sowers Harvest Cafe, and Joe Kurtz, of Coronation Cafe, remember the day, the place, and the conversation. 

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Just a year or two before in September of 2015, Bryant and Lynelle Martin had opened Sowers Harvest Cafe in State College, PA. Through much hard work, careful planning, and calling out to God they were just beginning to see the fruits of their work. 

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Joe suggested that Bryant would take what they have leaned and systems they had created and would assist others who had a vision to open a cafe. 

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Fast forward a few years to another conversation. During an early moring phone in 2021, a document was drafted which became a springboard for further developments. 

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Around this time the oweners of another creperie and coffee shop joinied the conversation. Josh Puffer and Jerriel Martin of Potsdam, NY had just opened Old Market Coffee in August 2021. Along with Bryant and Joe, they participated in a monthly Zoom meeting. This meeting provided a platform for collaboration among the three cafes. Also during these meetings a planbegan to materialize to form an alliance. 

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In 2023, a legal entity was created and Extend Cafes was born. Nevin Atkinson, an employee of sowers Harvest, came on as Extend's fist employee. Also, beginning in 2023 and continuing through 2024 Extend Cafes met regularly with and received guidance from an Anabaptist Financial business adviser, Clyde Zimmerman. 

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the founders of Extend Cafes share a common belief that cafes are an excellent platform for living out the Gospel and serving others as Jesus would. 

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The founding members of Extend Cafes have benefited greatly from the collaboration they have had among themselves over the past few years. They are excited to make this collaboration accessible to others who share a similar vision and hold similar values. They want to share what they have learned along the way but also want to welcome those who join the alliance to be contributors and teachers and give them the opportunity to help shape the future of Extend Cafes.

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Extend your table. 

Extend the kingdom.