A Proposal by Solomon Dubie in Support of Café Avole.

Introduction 

I want to transform “Rainier Mini Mart” into Café Avole, an elegant, inviting, community-based cafe that offers the culture of coffee from my very own heritage, Ethiopia. I have leased the building since November 2012 and I have plans to revamp the inside to better to cater to needs of local coffee consumers. I am coming to Indiego-go with hopes of financial support so that I can provide an experience which is one of a kind.

My commitment to all backers is to be as clear  where the funding will go. All dollars raised through this campaign will go directly towards financing the special equipment and minor construction needed to transform the Mini Mart into a cafe offering beverages and fresh meals. 

“Buna” (Coffee) - The Ethiopian Way

I remember the first time I became interested in Buna. I was 11 years old and wanted to treat my mother to her special morning ritual of drinking coffee. I had seen her do it a thousand times, so I took the initiative to roast the raw beans on the kitchen stove just as she would. Everything was going great or so I thought until smoke began to billow in the air. My mother came in screaming and began laughing as she saw what I was so eager to attempt. She then taught me the special coffee ceremony. This memory is forever ingrained in my mind and I hold it dear to my heart. I learned what to look for in roasting and brewing buna, the traditional Ethiopian way, just as my mother was taught by her mother.

At a mere 11 years old, coffee was more to me than a bitter experience; it meant serenity, as I saw my mom sit peacefully on a small stool in front of a small table with her three small cups. Each cup (Ciene) had a name, one for each round of the brewing (adding water to existing brew and reheating). The first cup is called “Avole”, pronounced “A-bol”, the second cup is called “seconds”, pronounced “hu-le-tegn-a”, the third and final cup is called Be-re-ke-t.

Now at age 27, coffee has become an integral part of my life, as it is for many others. I want to provide the same experience to my customers with the same ritual and customs that I was exposed to and that I grew up to respect. Since my junior year at Eastern Washington University, I have diligently studied the industry of coffee the same way I studied with my mother. In addition, I went on a trip to Ethiopia to witness first-hand the fertile land which the raw coffee beans come from. This is all done so that I can live out my mission to provide excellent coffee to my community and to launch Café Avole. 

This past summer I led the organization of the “Night Out Block Party” for the Brighton Neighborhood,  which my shop serves. Neighbors came out for live music, food, prizes and togetherness at the intersection of Rainier Avenue South and South Holly Streets. The event is part of a national movement to prevent crime in neighborhoods and to unite communities. People of all ages and members of the police department attended to celebrate our streets, spend time, and get to know each other.

I want Café Avole to embody the feeling of fellowship year round for this neighborhood and the surrounding neighborhoods in Southeast Seattle. In order to succeed, I am asking for financial support. I launched this campaign to fundraise a grand total of $17,407.50 to purchase the equipment needed to get Café Avole up and running. I am also seeking community members who can support a street outreach team, marketing programs, business development, all skills that Café Avole needs for its mission to better our community.

How will the money be spent?