Interview with Libby Birky, executive director
Q: How did you get involved in this business?
A: After volunteering in a number of homeless shelters and soup kitchens, we were inspired to try to create a different kind of service — one that would eliminate the gap between those who had access to healthy and natural, organic food and those who couldn’t afford it.
Q: What distinguishes you from other businesses in your category?
A: We are Colorado’s first non-profit pay-what-you-can restaurant, or “community cafe.” Anyone who walks through our doors has the option of donating time or talent in exchange for a meal. That means either a cash amount that they feel is fair or volunteering 30 minutes of their time. All of our food is sourced from local farms whenever possible, with a focus on healthy and organic ingredients.
Q: What do you like best about your line of work?
A: We have a different crew working in the kitchen each and every day, and we get to meet some of the most interesting people in the city.
Q: What is your business’ biggest challenge?
A: Convincing people that SAME Cafe is not a soup kitchen. Yes, soup is on our menu, but so are items like kale and parmesan salad and pizza with apples, bleu cheese and pecans. Once people come in the door, they finally “get it,” but until then we are fighting a stereotype of serving watery soup and leftover bread.
Q: Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business:
A: We have an extremely diverse crowd of customers, from doctors, nurses and lawyers to students, day laborers and elderly folks on fixed incomes.
Profile
Business: SAME Cafe
Address: 2023 E. Colfax Ave.
Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Saturday, closed Sundays
Founded: 2006
Contact: 720-530-6853, ,
Employees: 4
