Columbus coffee shop closes ‘as love for Black people recedes,’ says owner

A coffee shop serving not only espresso but a place for the community to gather closed its doors last week.

The Purple Door Cafe, located inside of the nonprofit, Zorah’s House, at 1393 N. 4th St., announced they made the bittersweet decision to say farewell. Zora’s House serves as a space dedicated to providing women and gender expansive people of color with the space and connections they need to thrive, both personally and professionally. Purple Door Cafe was attached to the building.

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In a guest columnist piece for The Columbus Dispatch, the founder LC Johnson, wrote, “Our cafe is closing as ‘love’ for Black people recedes.”

She explained in her article that in 2020, America “love-bombed Black people,” but that momentum hasn’t kept up. This year, Zora’s House philanthropic support has experienced a sharp drop. “My hope is that Columbus won’t see it as an isolated event, but as a warning of what’s at stake for our city’s broader ecosystem of care, creativity, and community,” said Johnson. 

If you’d like to make a donation to Zora’s House, which will remain open as a co-working space for women and gender expansive people of color, visit their website.

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