Clubhouse Café Opens January 8, 2024
South Bronx United is opening the Clubhouse Café on January 8th, 2024. A social enterprise coffee shop dedicated to providing real-world job training to young adults, the Clubhouse Café is located at 812 River Avenue, just one block from Yankee Stadium, and will be one of the only coffee shops in the Bronx’s Concourse neighborhood.
It will expand upon South Bronx United’s programs that engage children and young people, particularly those within the immigrant community, through soccer while offering academic enrichment, college prep programs, mentoring, immigration legal services, and other family supports. South Bronx United’s impact is felt through the thousands of children who have participated in its community programs and through graduates of the SBU Academy, where 100% of its high school seniors since 2011 have graduated high school and 94% have matriculated into college.
In order to expand its community impact through employment, job training, and an excellent cafe experience, the organization has partnered with local New York City Colombian coffee roaster Devoción. The roaster has elevated the third wave coffee movement at its five locations throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn by selling the “freshest coffee” available in the U.S. going from farm-to-cup in as little as 10 days. As a certified B-Corp, Devoción’s dedication to supporting the local communities in which they operate aligns perfectly with South Bronx United’s goals for the Clubhouse Café. As part of Devocion’s partnership with South Bronx United, the brand will be providing substantial support including infrastructure, product and training for both full time staff and local youth in training.
“Devoción is thrilled to work with South Bronx United in providing job training and career opportunities to the next generation while making the Clubhouse Café our first partner in the Bronx. South Bronx United already delivers crucial programs to youth and families in the Bronx, so there was no better organization to work with on this,” said Devoción’s Colombian-born CEO Steven Sutton who launched the company in 2006.
Another key partner in the project is Harney & Sons, a family-led fine tea brand with an international reputation and a flagship shop in SoHo. Sweets and pastries are sourced from South Bronx bakeries Mottley Kitchen and Sully & Vanilla.
The opening of the Clubhouse Café enables South Bronx United to strengthen its college and career success services through a new workforce development program for underemployed young people, ages 16-24. The program will help participants build job skills, cultivate a potential career, and secure long-term employment through weekly workshops and on-the-job training. During a six-month cohort, program fellows are employed in the Café Fellowship as baristas and food/hospitality staff or on the soccer field as coaches and mentors through the Coaching Corps. Ultimately, the program aims to help fellows gain full-time employment either in food service and hospitality or sports; transition into employment or a training program for another career of interest; or pursue a full-time higher education degree.
Says South Bronx United’s Executive Director and co-founder Andrew So: “We are excited to finally open our doors at the Clubhouse Café. This area has long lacked a spot with a neighborhood feel for residents, workers, and even tourists and fans to stop in for a coffee or tea, for a meetup, or a quick workspace. Now they can do so while also supporting an important cause. With every cup and every purchase, guests will be giving our young adults something they’ve been asking for: job training, professional skills, and a potential entrance into a career.”
The first employment cohort launched in July with 12 young women and men, including seven who participated in the Café Fellowship. They completed barista training at Devoción’s state-of-the-art education lab in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Drop in to the Clubhouse Café to meet the Fellows behind the counter and continue their training.