So today we have the honor of introducing you to Jenna Greenwood, Katharine Hiltbrand, and John Hiltbrand – Co-Owners of Quince Coffee House.
Hi Jenna, Katharine and John so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
Physical space is a key component of community organizing and coffee houses have a long history of being the meeting place for social change. Physical space is also a key component from which our populations have been denied, restricted, and forcibly removed. It’s essential to be able to say “this is our space. You are welcome here. You are not the only one in the room”. To the question, in order to be effective as the only one in the room, we may have to unlock doors, invite others in and eventually tear down the room and make something bigger and better for all of us. We unlock doors by increasing visibility and creating access; we invite others in by literally inviting in other community QT BIPOC creatives and visionaries; we tear down by taking an anticolonial, antiracist, and liberatory approach to our business; we make something better by purposefully doing this work together, specifically collaborating with community organizations and neighbors around us.
As the descendents of Black American and U.S. immigrant families, we have spent the majority of our everyday lives as “the only one in the room”. One important factor is knowing even when we are the only one in a particular space, we are part of a huge community of people who are with us in our journey. Our ancestors, our elders, our partners, our children, our grandchildren…they are all in the room with us. It was the ones who entered the room before us that we have to thank for paving the way. Our elders have often been “the first”or “the only” and are measured accordingly. We carry that power into every interaction and decision that we make. To be successful means to be successful for the greater good, and to be effective we have to understand our unique role in the larger picture. Being in the room is having a say in a conversation that many others don’t have access to, and that is powerful.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
We are a queer, BIPOC, woman, non-binary, veteran, first-generation business. We are the embodiment of a coffee “house” but our focus is on being a “home”. We want to continue to develop ourselves as the essence of home – a safe place to learn and grow, a place to relax and restore, a place to gather, a place for fun and joy, a place for hosting friends and family. The question we are exploring is how best to do that. Our longer term goals lean into creating a non-profit that will allow us to expand our energy outward into the community. We would like to support more programs and creative endeavors and, of course, grow our space and team. A second location perhaps? In the immediate future we want to maximize our brand, particularly in coffee and tea. We are pursuing new roasts and blends to get out on our shelves. We’re biased, but we think our roasts are pretty good:)
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Joy. Unapologetic joy. Black joy. Queer joy. Joy as liberation. We carry joy with us into every room as our inheritance and our purpose. Our joy is ours, it belongs to us. That’s what we are creating with Quince Coffee House.
Persistence. The ability to keep moving in a direction that is often unclear and constantly shifting and full of hurdles. The work we get to do is special so we remember our why and we continue to work for the community that we are serving.
Creativity. Prototyping passion – being curious and pursuing your passions and interests, even if its not your full-time paid occupation. Finding inspiration in the ecosystem around you. Staying open and ready for opportunities that come along.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
We’ve spent the last year building community and co-creating a safe and affirming space for people to gather. We are your home away from home. We love to collaborate and support our community in every way possible. You can host public or private events in our space or invite us to cater for you. We have a stage for weekly live music performances and the occasional open mic. Artists and creatives can display art and sell products commission-free. Our space is child friendly and regularly welcomes community groups and meetups. With a wrap-around porch, large back yard, and off-street parking, its a convenient place to bring your whole crew. As we grow, we would love to have folks who can facilitate larger programs with us such as maker markets and interactive workshops. We’re open to ideas! Gather your people, show your art, share your music, bring your joy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.quincecoffee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quincecoffeehouse
Image Credits
Neha Byati Nethaniel Libby Paige Thaxter (Manager/ Barista also pictured)
