Our Vision.
Rose Café is a place of opportunity. We are creating a space that highlights all the positive aspects of our community. We are fostering a culture grounded in support, trust and tranquility. We are making it possible for people that have been left out or neglected to find their voice. We are promoting an environment that offers much more than what we sell. The high school student that comes in for a snack will see an older woman in the café reading. The hardworking man that wants a strong cup of coffee will admire the men playing chess and learn to play. A lonely woman looking for a book to read alone will find friendship and thought provoking discussion after joining a book club. Our mission starts with the community that surrounds the storefront of Rose Café and expands as far as the people that purchase our books and merchandise online. We are not just building a café. We are creating a movement.
A letter from our owner
Rose Café was born during the black revolution of 2020.
On May 31st 2020, protests erupted around the country and world in response to the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmud Arbery. People were outraged by these deaths not only as individual atrocities, but as part of the systemic pattern of devaluing black lives. As I marched through my neighborhood with my sons, I knew the South Side of Chicago would never be the same. I knew a change was coming. The next morning, community members of Roseland and Rosemore cleaned up the streets. I was impressed in our ability to rise above the pain and come together to support our community. Not only was I impressed, I was inspired. I wanted that feeling forever.
While cleaning together, I noticed that this area, my home for 26 years, was missing something. A place to read. A place for healthy conversation. A place to empower local voices. A place to highlight the beauty of our community, and not the negativity. This place was missing from our community. Until now.
Rose Café is committed to bringing black business to a predominantly black community. In creating this space, we hope not only to promote black authors, artists, and entrepreneurs, we hope to continue to inspire the next generation to give back to their community. Rose Café is here to set a tone for the Roseland and Rosemore communities. In order for the youth to live up to the high expectations we have, the adults must lead by example. In creating this space, I am reminded of a quote from President Obama when he stated, “change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek”. It’s up to us to continue this fight. At Rose Café, we are not waiting to promote peace, unity and justice. We do it every day. Come join us.
Iesha Malone
Owner Rose Café, LLC
