Making Nest Cafe
Nest Cafe is the no.1 action plan of the Nest Project. Nest Cafe is a key place where the Nest Project manifests.
I used to own a children’s store. In the store, the wooden toys, organic baby clothing, classic books and various gift items were sold. There customers could enjoy self-served complimentary organic coffee and tea. There were a couch and a play table where simple wooden toys and blocks were placed for the little visitors to play. We carefully selected the background music to be positive and soothing. Morning in the store was filled with newly brewed coffee aroma, then in the afternoon, essential oils soothed a little stressed moms. Parents and children visited the store and often spent several hours talking to us about the latest happenings in their lives, and networking with other parents and grandparents who chose my store based on the similar value. I appreciated that customers continued the conversations with us from where they were left off at the last visit as if we were old friends. 
We bonded with babies since they were in moms’ tummies and enjoyed their growth every time they visited us. We laughed a lot together with customers for their happy news and shared tears at their sad times. Once a month, we had a free event like a puppet show by a local kindergarten teacher or story time by a librarian. Children happily did treasure hunts during the Easter weekends in the store. Holiday season was everyone’s favorite time looking for heart warming gifts for their loved ones. Years after I closed the store, many former customers talked to me and said they missed the place very much. They affectionally called it the “magical” and “special” place. I realized that it was not the products we sold that people gathered for. People missed the “space” where they were a part of something nurturing, something assuring and trusting. That was how the Nest Cafe idea was born.
Over the years, I learned many practical tools for building communities. I excise them daily to consciously create communities around me. I can say it is such a rewarding, but simple process. I wonder if more people should tap into these tools, so that they could create a supportive environment for themselves. Nest Cafe will be the space for people to learn the community building tools by being a part of the true working community.
We often associate good memories with foods and drinks as well as the feeling they get from the space, smells, temparature, music and etc. Satisfying our 5 senses is as important as treating each person who walks into the space as a member of the community.
The Nest Cafe should have a space for special events such as concerts, galleries and lecture, classes, meetings, parties, and celebrations. It should be a place for supporting each other, networking, sharing new ideas. It does not matter you are coming in as a group or alone, you will find yourself sharing a good time with others.
I am suggesting by creating a magical and special community space, this concept cafe one at a time. that we can make the world much nicer place to be, for us, everyone around us and for the next generation to come.
If you are interested in this project or investing in creating a Nest Cafe, please contact us here.
