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S T A R T U P
enhance the social, spiritual, artistic and social fabric of
downtown Tampa. And they do that through a variety
of initiatives. First, the coffee shop, where they hire
folks transitioning out of social service programs and
them a living wage and empower them with job skills,
healthcare and most importantly, integrity.
But do not be misled, the café has a mission and a
purpose, but the food is delicious! In the creation of
the café they pulled in Erin Guggino, former Oxford
Exchange chef, and a team of amazingly talented
people to develop a concept and menu that rivals any
breakfast in town. The ingredients are fresh and made
to order and include items like eggs, goat cheese,
tomatoes and spinach on fresh ciabatta.
The café is a special part of the Portico’s mission but
the community outreach is the heart. They engage
people in “contemplative practices” that include
meditation, advocacy to give a voice to important
societal issues, and homeless initiatives where they
housing organizations. They focus on allowing, inviting,
participating, as different groups talk about important
potlucks and one Sunday night congregation gathering.
They also have meditation in the historic chapel at
12:15 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, simply a group of
people gathered to sit in silence for 20 minutes.
Finally, they activate the event space by partnering
with the downtown partnership on events such as
Fourth Fridays, when they join the various art spaces
open for free to the public. Other events include open
mic nights, music series and a variety of events offered
their space for free to these organizations for events,
meetings or gatherings, only asking for them to utilize
the café catering as part of the event.
For Justin and his staff, there is more to a warm cup
of coffee than the beverage within, “We wanted to
be a gift. We wanted to activate the space and to not
forget the poor. And so that's how we focused our
Obviously the coffee shop, which is open for people
to just come and drink a cup of coffee or to work with
really high speed Internet. But also to remember the
three core values: creating an important conversation,
creating an impactful connection and participating in
our community.”
There are a lot of wonderful coffee shops and cowork
spaces in Tampa, each with their own vibe and
personality. But there is something irreplaceable about
The Portico. The people, the mission, the energy and
the generosity of spirit for our community. I encourage
you to come for the coffee, the events, but most of all
the people. This is an issue of The District focused on
new beginnings and the Portico gives new beginnings
to all who step inside her doors.
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