Located at the Los Angeles LGBTQ Center’s flagship Anita May Rosenstein Campus, the 1,600-square-foot café and community space is operated and staffed by graduates from the Center’s inter-generational Culinary Arts program, a three-month training program launched in 2019 to prepare LGBTQ youth and seniors from the Center for employment in the restaurant and hospitality industries.
Bakers knead croissants, cookies, gourmet pop tarts and more to fill the pastry case, while other items like the breakfast pizza, Thai chicken salad, breakfast burritos and daily parfaits are prepared daily.
“It’s all been very intentional—from our partners and the products we’re serving to the design of the space and staff that we’re hiring—to foster pride, passion, and warmth in this community-driven space,” says Erin Muscatelli, the manager of the LGBTQ Center’s café and catering program. “It’s a really good way to introduce the Center to the outside community who might not know a lot about us.”
Unfortunately due to state and city COVID-19 regulations indoor dine-in service and indoor gatherings are not permitted at this time but, once lifted, Liberation Coffee House plans to use its space for gallery showings, lectures, celebrations, networking mixers and other LGBTQ+ community events.
In the meantime, take a peek inside the new coffee shop, below, then stop by any day of the week for to-go foods and a full espresso bar.
Revenue from this unique social enterprise will be reinvested into the Center’s life-changing and life-saving programs and services.
