Lucas Trautman and Kristin Fox-Trautman have a passion for their city and a clear mission for their lives;
To nourish community change by providing living wage jobs, life-giving food and a gathering place that inspires and connects people for the sake of a more just and compassionate Memphis.
And they are crushing that goal! Inspire Cafe, located at 510 Tillman Suite 110, opened in December of last year. This area, which was once considered a "food desert" is now called the Binghampton Gateway Center and addresses food availability through options such as the new Save-A-Lot grocery store and now Inspire Cafe.
The concept of healthy affordable food offered in an environment that inspires and connects people was born years prior over shared meals at their own kitchen table. While waiting for the perfect brick and mortar location, the couple opened a mobile cafe in the summer of 2017 to rave reviews. They rented space from Kaleidoscope Kitchen, a community-oriented faith-based non-profit that rents commercial kitchen space to entrepreneurs. They built their staff from the surrounding neighborhood and made the choice to pay a liveable wage and plan to offer apprenticeship opportunities to teens in the area that focus on both career training and mentoring relationships.
Many of the ingredients in their healthy and hearty choices are locally sourced from places such as Carpenter Art Garden. They offer a full menu of coffee drinks and smoothies along with a healthy and hearty breakfast, lunch and dinner. They also provide healthy dinners available for pick up. Did I mention that Lucus, the husband part of this dynamic duo has opened Stardust Jiu Jitsu right next door to the cafe? This is an amazing place for kids of all ages and stages to come practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, American Wrestling and Creative Movement.
Inspire Cafe is open Monday thru Friday from 8am-6pm and Saturday from 8am-2pm. Do yourself a favor and visit this fantastic place, you won't regret it!