Established in 2018 by three 23-year-old native Washingtonians—Kevon King, Mahammad Mangum and Ryan Williams, The Village Café wanted to use the collective market platforms of eons past, wherein businesses with complimentary resources worked together to sustain one another. Located in Washington D.C.’s thriving Union Market District, The Village Café crafted a vibrant wellspring by pulling from a rich supply of burgeoning entrepreneurs, local businesses, creatives, and food producers, to source their business. To this, the trio needed to create a business plan that addressed both their business and their outreach to other businesses.
DCSBDC started consulting the company, when its founders just had an idea but were inexperienced in business. We helped the company create a convincing business plan, put it in touch with SMEs, in the restaurant industry, and helped it obtain the funding that proved crucial to its start-up.
The Village Cafe sources its products from Southeast and Northeast D.C., including DC Urban Greens for its produce, Southeastern Roastery for its coffee, and Good Thoughts Tea Company for its tea. Under the management of Williams, who graduated from the Culinary Institute of America, the cafe serves light fare and pastries and, eventually, will offer handcrafted cocktails, wine, and beer. The cafe will also work with organizations such as Dreaming Out Loud, whose efforts include creating equal access to fresh, healthy food choices.
The cafe will also host events that will bring different communities together. Plans include sign language classes taught by members of the Gallaudet University community, “Village Talks” about healthy eating, and children’s story time with Politics and Prose bookstore.
