The Roosevelt Coffeehouse
The Roosevelt Coffeehouse is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise operating two Columbus, Ohio coffeehouses plus a licensed location, with all profits funding initiatives against hunger, unclean water, and human trafficking. It sells coffee, merchandise, and accepts tiered recurring donations, supplemented by its own Roosevelt Coffee Roasters wholesale operation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- Headquarters—
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Roosevelt Coffeehouse does
The Roosevelt Coffeehouse is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise founded in 2015 in Columbus, Ohio by Kenny Sipes. It operates two company-owned coffeehouse locations — at 300 E. Long Street in the Discovery District and at 462 W. Broad Street in the Franklinton Gravity Project — plus a licensed branded coffee experience at Olentangy River Brewing Company in Lewis Center. The organization sells specialty coffee, espresso beverages, merchandise, and gift cards in-store and through online ordering powered by Square, with roasted coffee and wholesale accounts handled through Roosevelt Coffee Roasters (a separate 2018 entity under Roosevelt Coffee LLC) via roosevelt.coffee. Revenue is supplemented by a tiered monthly donation program ($5-$200/month), one-time gifts, and the Kroger Community Rewards program, all routed through the Redeeming Injustice nonprofit and The Roosevelt Foundation oversight board.
The underlying technology stack is intentionally lightweight: WordPress/WooCommerce powers rooseveltcoffee.org and roosevelt.coffee for content and e-commerce, Square handles online ordering and pickup/delivery logistics, and standard social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, YouTube) drive community-driven top-of-funnel marketing. No proprietary software, AI/ML systems, mobile app, or third-party SaaS integrations beyond basic payment and commerce tools are disclosed.
The business model combines commercial coffeehouse operations with philanthropic fundraising: in-store beverage and retail sales, gift cards, e-commerce coffee and merchandise sales, wholesale distribution through Roosevelt Coffee Roasters, and recurring and one-time charitable donations. All profits are directed to vetted partner organizations addressing hunger, unclean water, and human trafficking — both locally and globally — with over $230,000 contributed to date. The customer base consists of community-conscious consumers in Central Ohio and a distributed donor base, and the team operates as a 6-person founder-led organization with no external institutional capital.
The Roosevelt Coffeehouse firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Roosevelt Coffeehouse
- Legal name
- The Roosevelt Coffeehouse
- Website
- https://rooseveltcoffee.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- The Roosevelt Coffeehouse is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise operating two Columbus, Ohio coffeehouses plus a licensed location, with all profits funding initiatives against hunger, unclean water, and human trafficking. It sells coffee, merchandise, and accepts tiered recurring donations, supplemented by its own Roosevelt Coffee Roasters wholesale operation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Roosevelt Coffeehouse industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Coffee Retail
- NAICS
- Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars (722515), Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave) (THAFADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Instant Coffee & Coffee Extract Manufacturing (AFAFADAD)
Keywords
The Roosevelt Coffeehouse business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Coffee and Beverage Sales: In-store coffeehouse sales at two physical locations plus licensed operations at Olentangy River Brewing Company. Generates revenue from espresso drinks, brewed coffee, and related beverages.
- Retail Coffee and Merchandise: Online and in-store sales of roasted coffee beans, merchandise (mugs, apparel), and gift cards through roosevelt.coffee e-commerce platform.
- Donations and Charitable Giving: Tax-deductible donations as a 501(c)(3) organization. Monthly recurring donation program with tiers ($5-$200/month). One-time donation options. Includes Kroger Community Rewards enrollment.
- Roosevelt Coffee Roasters: Coffee roasting operations supplying coffeehouse locations and wholesale accounts. Started in 2018 to eliminate middleman in coffee purchasing and maximize profits for justice initiatives.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly Donation Tiers |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Gift Cards |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Coffee and Merchandise |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Roosevelt Coffeehouse product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Roosevelt Coffeehouse operates specialty coffee retail locations in Columbus, Ohio (Long Street Downtown and Gravity Franklinton), serving espresso drinks and brewed coffee. Through its sub-brand Roosevelt Coffee Roasters, it roasts and sells coffee beans, merchandise, and gift cards via roosevelt.coffee. All profits fund 501(c)(3) initiatives combating hunger, unclean water, and human trafficking.
Product overview
The Roosevelt Coffeehouse is a social enterprise coffee shop offering two distinct product lines: (1) physical in-store coffeehouse services at two Columbus, Ohio locations (Long Street Downtown and Gravity in Franklinton), and (2) Roosevelt Coffee Roasters, their own branded coffee products sold through roosevelt.coffee. Supporting offerings include gift cards, merchandise, online ordering via Square, Long Street Studio event rentals, and a charitable donation program. The company also maintains a licensed location at Olentangy River Brewing Company in Lewis Center. All profits fund initiatives combating hunger, unclean water, and human trafficking.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Roosevelt Coffee Roasters: Coffee roasting and wholesale operation established in 2018 to eliminate the middleman in coffee purchasing, maximize profits for social impact initiatives, and provide coffee to the coffeehouse and wholesale accounts.
Products and services
- The Roosevelt Coffeehouse (In-Store Experience) Specialty coffee and espresso drinks served at two physical coffeehouse locations in Columbus, Ohio (Long Street Downtown and Gravity in Franklinton). Service is targeted at walk-in individual consumers and community visitors who want quality coffee tied to a social justice mission.
- Roosevelt Coffee Roasters In-house coffee roasting brand that roasts and sells specialty coffee beans to consumers and wholesale accounts. Eliminates third-party roasters to maximize funds available for the social mission.
- Roosevelt Branded Merchandise
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $230,000 donated to justice initiatives since founding
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Roosevelt Coffeehouse
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Roosevelt Coffeehouse technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
The Roosevelt Coffeehouse partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Olentangy River Brewing CompanycoreLicensed operating agreement at 303 Green Meadows Drive South, Lewis Center, Ohio. Roosevelt Coffeehouse brand is embedded within the brewery, marking the company's first licensed location. This partnership expands brand reach while minimizing capital investment.
- Roosevelt Coffee RoasterscoreSeparate roasting entity founded in 2018 to supply coffeehouse locations and wholesale accounts. Eliminates middleman in coffee purchasing to maximize profits for justice initiatives. Owned by related entity Roosevelt Coffee LLC.
- Gravity ProjectcoreLocated within the Gravity Project, a mixed-use development in Franklinton, Columbus. The 1,800 sq ft location features murals and connects to Food Truck Alley, positioning Roosevelt within a vibrant community ecosystem.
- KrogerminorEnrollment in Kroger Community Rewards program allowing shoppers to designate Redeeming Injustice as their charity. Shoppers can support the non-profit with everyday grocery purchases.
- World VisioncoreSource of statistics and information about global water crisis used in educational content on the Justice page. Partner organization working on clean water initiatives worldwide.
- UNICEFcoreSource of statistics on hunger and malnutrition cited on the Justice page. UNICEF data validates the scale of problems Roosevelt Coffeehouse aims to address through fundraising.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Roosevelt Coffeehouse competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Crimson Cup Coffee: Columbus, Ohio-based specialty coffee roaster and cafe operator with both retail cafes and a wholesale/office coffee business. Directly comparable to Roosevelt as a local specialty coffee operator with roastery, cafe, and wholesale channels competing in the same Columbus market.
- Dean's Beans Coffee Co. Mission-driven specialty coffee roaster operating as a for-benefit company focused on fair trade and social impact. Closely comparable business model to Roosevelt Coffee Roasters, with a similar values-led positioning and wholesale/retail mix.
- Higher Grounds Coffee: Nonprofit specialty coffee company that channels profits into international development and community causes. One of the closest structural peers to Roosevelt as a mission-driven coffee enterprise funding justice initiatives through sales.
- Just Coffee Cooperative: Worker-owned coffee cooperative focused on fair trade and transparent sourcing. Comparable mission-led roaster and direct-trade model, even though organized as a cooperative rather than a 501(c)(3).
- Cafe Campesino: Fair trade, small-batch specialty coffee roaster with a mission-driven cooperative model. Comparable to Roosevelt in combining small-scale specialty roasting with an explicit social impact narrative.
Broad incumbents
- Counter Culture Coffee: Established specialty coffee roaster with training centers, wholesale distribution, and sustainability programming. Larger-scale incumbent offering overlapping specialty coffee and impact-oriented capabilities, though broader in portfolio than Roosevelt's nonprofit focus.
- Blue Bottle Coffee: Premium specialty coffee roaster and cafe chain with extensive retail footprint and e-commerce. Operates broadly in the third-wave coffee space overlapping with Roosevelt's specialty positioning, but at substantially greater scale.
Emerging players
- Verve Coffee Roasters: Specialty coffee roaster with cafes and a strong farm-to-cup sourcing narrative. Comparable specialty coffee positioning and cafe-retail-wholesale mix; an emerging brand rather than an established incumbent.
Regional players
- One Line Coffee: Columbus, Ohio-based specialty coffee roaster and cafe operator competing in the same local market. Strong regional peer for Roosevelt in specialty retail and roasting within Central Ohio.
- Stauf's Coffee Roasters: Long-standing Columbus, Ohio specialty coffee roaster and cafe chain. A direct local competitor for both retail customers and wholesale accounts within Roosevelt's home market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Roosevelt Coffeehouse social profiles
Digital presenceThe Roosevelt Coffeehouse financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Roosevelt Coffeehouse leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Roosevelt Coffeehouse subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
The Roosevelt Coffeehouse funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Roosevelt Coffeehouse M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Roosevelt Coffeehouse
What does The Roosevelt Coffeehouse do?
The Roosevelt Coffeehouse operates specialty coffee retail locations in Columbus, Ohio (Long Street Downtown and Gravity Franklinton), serving espresso drinks and brewed coffee. Through its sub-brand Roosevelt Coffee Roasters, it roasts and sells coffee beans, merchandise, and gift cards via roosevelt.coffee. All profits fund 501(c)(3) initiatives combating hunger, unclean water, and human trafficking.
Is The Roosevelt Coffeehouse a public or private company?
The Roosevelt Coffeehouse is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Roosevelt Coffeehouse founded?
The Roosevelt Coffeehouse was founded in 2015.
How does The Roosevelt Coffeehouse make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Coffee and Beverage Sales are the primary driver. The others are retail Coffee and Merchandise, donations and Charitable Giving and roosevelt Coffee Roasters.
Who are The Roosevelt Coffeehouse's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Crimson Cup Coffee, Dean's Beans Coffee Co., Higher Grounds Coffee, Just Coffee Cooperative and Cafe Campesino. Broad incumbents are Counter Culture Coffee and Blue Bottle Coffee. Verve Coffee Roasters is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are One Line Coffee and Stauf's Coffee Roasters.
Does The Roosevelt Coffeehouse have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Roosevelt Coffeehouse.
What industry is The Roosevelt Coffeehouse in?
The Roosevelt Coffeehouse's product category is Specialty Coffee Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFADAA, Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave), with a secondary code of AFAFADAD, Instant Coffee & Coffee Extract Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 722515 and its SIC code is 5810.