Wrapping up the 2025 Making the (G)rounds Summer Coffee Shop Tour
32 new (and old) friends.
22 teas drank by Jessica (iced) and Josh (chai).
13 of Rhode Island’s finest coffee shops and cafes.
12 Wednesdays (+ one Tuesday).
6 suggestions of additional favorite spots for the next tour.
5 beautiful Rhode Island counties, from ocean to farm, village to downtown.
3 months.
2 worker-owned establishments (White Electric and Custom House Coffee).
Several breakfast sandwiches, bagels, and doughnuts eaten by Jessica (but who’s counting).
One. Amazing. Summer.
Thank you for joining us as we made the (g)rounds of the state this summer, raising awareness of the Local Return Diversified Community Investment Fund one morning beverage at a time. It was the perfect opportunity to combine two of our favorite things: supporting local, independently-owned businesses and talking with people about Rhode Island’s first community investment fund.
Our hope was to get some people curious about the Local Return DCIF and the Rhode Island Community Investment Cooperative. But really, the benefit was all ours. We had a marvelous time meeting new friends, hearing your questions and ideas about local investing, and learning about neighborhoods besides our own.
We’re well on our way to our goal of 20 new community investors, but we still need a few more investors. Will that be you?
Invest by September 30 to be forever acknowledged as an Anchor Investor in the Local Return Diversified Community Investment Fund. Anchor Investors play a doubly important role; beyond their valuable financial investment, they signal the community’s commitment to community investing.
Thank you for showing up to ask questions, share ideas, and introduce us to your neighborhood! And special thanks to the 13 cafes that hosted us: White Electric Coffee Co-op in Providence, Borealis Coffee Company in Riverside, Java Madness in Wakefield, Dissent in Pawtucket, Empire Tea & Coffee on Broadway in Newport, Cafe 1888 in Westerly, Notes Coffee Co. in Pawtucket, The Nook in East Greenwich, Cafe Water Street in Warren, Presto Strange O Coffee Company in Warwick, Seven Stars Bakery in Edgewood, Phantom Farms Cafe in Cumberland, and Custom House Coffee in Middletown.
Thank you again for your hospitality. We hope to see you soon!
