LONGMONT, Colo. — For five years, the Longmont Recovery Café has been in the basement of the Central Presbyterian Church at Fourth Avenue and Kimbark Street. It's been the meeting place for community, acceptance and a path forward.
"Five years ago when we started, we had a clear need," said Jen Jepsen, executive director . "We involved community leaders across the area of Longmont and we all met together to really talk about this growing vision. And from there, the café began underground in the church."
Jepsen said building connections for people overcoming life's challenges has always been the café's mission.
"We often see people who are at that intersection of substance use, alcohol use, and so we provide a safe place to land for people coming out of treatment or who are ready to explore sobriety or what recovery looks like for them," Jepsen said.
After five years, Jepsen said the needs of the community have grown and they no longer fit in the church basement.
"Our space right now, at 2,000 square feet, we’re kind of all on top of each other, but we’re building our team and we’re building a larger capacity to serve people," Jepsen said.
On Saturday, the café hosted a celebration party at its new building at Eighth Avenue and Main Street. The building, at final completion, will be nearly 7,000 square feet that includes meeting rooms, a courtyard, a café and a commercial kitchen with the space being more disability-friendly.
The new space is an opportunity to shed light on a community that deserves to be seen.
"To move it to a neutral space that is above ground enables us to reach more people," Jepsen said. "When we get to be here, people get to walk by and see what we do and go, 'Oh, I like that. I want to be a part of that. I love there are people gathered here.' So it gives us an opportunity not only for our members, people in our community but an opportunity to engage the fuller community."
The café is looking to move into the new space by mid-2026.
Jepsen said staff will be hosting a fundraiser to help support funding the final completed building.