Socially Conscious Village Cafe Brings More Coffee to Union Market This Month

A debut cafe founded by D.C. natives and former high school classmates is arriving in Union Market this month, complete with locally-sourced coffee, daytime fare, and the goal of creating a hub for underserved entrepreneurs.

The Village Cafe (1272 5th Street NE) is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday, October 9, followed by a grand opening on Tuesday, October 23. Operating hours are Sunday and Monday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Tuesday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Founders Kevon King, Mahammad Mangum and Ryan Williams met as kids and went to Northwest’s Woodrow Wilson High School, where they pursued business, creative and culinary passions, respectively. In addition to serving coffee from two-year-old Southeastern Roastery, the cafe will also offer sandwiches and pastries featuring local ingredients. Stay tuned for a finalized menu, with handcrafted cocktails, wine, and beer joining the rotation at a later date.

Programming in the works includes sign language classes with Gallaudet University, healthy eating panel discussions, children’s story time with bookstore neighbor Politics and Prose, career skills workshops, an alumni panel from Wilson High School, and more.

Current java destinations in the vicinity include Blue Bottle Coffee and Pluma.

The Union Market area has continued to add more dining options as of late, with this summer’s arrival of Japanese restaurant O-Ku and the weeks-old neighborhood tavern St. Anselm. And four-time Chopped champion Adam Greenberg is getting ready to unveil his anticipated vacation-themed small plates restaurant, Coconut Club, over by Dolcezza Factory.

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