A place where the coffee is house-roasted, the food is intentional, and the service transforms. The team is made up of individuals from all walks of life that have a passion for transforming lives. As a top restaurant in the Queen City region, Community Matters Cafe sits in the heart of Charlotte, North Carolina. The name starts the story, but as you enter the revitalized industrial space you experience a welcoming place to gather for coffee and your favorite book, for breakfast in our dining room, lunch with a friend, or business meeting in our community room. The coffee, food and space says a lot, but there is more to tell.

Community Matters Cafe is more than a place to dine, it’s a life skills program for students graduating from the Charlotte Rescue Mission…here, we restore hope.

The true focus of Community Matters Cafe are the students in the 180-day life skills and rehabilitation program at Charlotte Rescue Mission. With the support of staff members who guide, train and work alongside students to serve the community, students experience the stressors of a restaurant as a way to practice and implement the life skills needed to transition back into daily life. Our students rotate through various positions in the restaurant and coffee shop, allowing them to add to their skill set while affirming their confidence in themselves and the community around them.

While addiction does not discriminate, a common factor we see is a detachment from the community. At Community Matters Cafe, we welcome you to join us in restoring that hope.