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Hi Riverside family. Wow. Where to begin?
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First, an apology– in the chaos of the summertime and the work leading to the grand opening of Riverside, the newsletter was unjustly left behind. This community of people, near and far, has been such a source of support in making this project a reality. I can’t tell you how much joy it brings me to write this email because what for so long has been a dream is now brick and mortar. You can touch it. Feel it. Inhale the sounds of a bustling coffeehouse standing on the remains of an abandoned bank building.
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The big news: Riverside Collective is open for business. The leadup was anything but seamless. My friend Sam and I with a set of zip ties, some banners, and a shaky ladder filled out the building’s long-empty sign. I think our sign embodies the story of this project in so many ways. We’re scrappy, resourceful, and sort of barely holding it together, but the end product is always worth it.
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On July 12th, we opened our doors. And of course, immediately, crises followed. Our ice cream machine kept short circuiting. The espresso grinder got jammed. The cucumber sandwiches I ordered seemed to lack cucumbers. And, naturally, since we didn’t have air conditioning it was at least 98 degrees inside the building.
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And yet, people showed up. They celebrated with us. They danced. They fanned themselves while line dancing in front of the vault. We spoke to news stations to tell our story and why investing in South Jackson matters.
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Since our opening, we’ve gotten better week by week. I’ve learned that people like vanilla ice cream more than chocolate. Opening on a Sunday during church is not a good way to get customers. If people are moved by your mission, they’ll give you a discount on the A/C unit they install for you. I’ve learned to get out of the way when our student entrepreneurs are making drinks, and at this point, they’ve trained several adults.
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Yesterday, three people walked to the building and shared how excited they’ve been for our opening. They’ve watched the mural unfold over several months and were glad to see a fully operational business inside. Last weekend, a 7th grade student organized a “Kid-preneur meeting” so other students could begin developing plans to start their own enterprises in South Jackson. The week before that, the “Community Day Party” brought over 60 customers to Riverside, all of whom asked what they could do to support our growth.
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Photo credits to Carlyn Photography; instagram: @carlynphotography
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A project like Riverside feels impossible. Until it’s not. The road ahead is not easy, but I know we’re on a journey to transform our city.
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Now for some personal news. I’ve lived, breathed, and dreamed about Riverside for the past four years. It’s now time for our community coffeehouse to become even more integrated into the fabric of South Jackson, stewarded by someone who grew up in the neighborhood.
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Riverside will be run by the brilliant, creative, and unrelenting Stephen Brown (aka 5th Child). Stephen’s an artist and an entrepreneur who took an abandoned bank building in the Briarwood community in North Jackson and transformed it into a center with free arts programming (and so much more…sound familiar?). Our student entrepreneurs took to him immediately and even named our espresso machine after him. It’s called “The Flea,” it’s a tremendous honor, and you’ll have to persuade Stephen to tell you the story. I have the utmost faith in Stephen’s leadership. Here’s a little bit about his “why” for taking over Riverside.
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Stephen and I are standing outside of Briarwood Arts Center's iconic mural in North Jackson.
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1. Why did you want to take over Riverside?
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Take over is a weird way to put it, lol. I feel like I'm being given custody of a dear friend's baby. I know how much Riverside means to Vilas, so I consider it the highest honor to assume leadership at this time. It's also special to me because this is the neighborhood I grew up in. I was raised in South Jackson and my parents still live about a mile and a half from this building. I have vivid memories of these roads and what was once a thriving landscape. To be a part of the revitalization of the Leavell Woods community is a humbling experience. I understand the gravity of this undertaking and I look forward to learning in real time.
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2. What's been the best part of working with the kids?
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They are HILARIOUS. From the first day that I met them, they were warm and welcoming. I was worried that they may view me as an outsider but that wasn't the case at all. They immediately accepted me as a big brother. I know it will be different without Mr. A around, but I'm excited about the opportunity to make new memories as we help each other grow.
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3. 10 years from now, where do you see Riverside?
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Riverside will be in the middle of a busy intersection with plenty of businesses and community spaces. It will be a living, breathing space full of life, love, and learning with regular customers and adventurous travelers coming to see what the fuss is about. Rather than being an oasis in the middle of a desert, Riverside will be one of many thriving organizations in the neighborhood.
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As for me, I’ll be in Beijing studying climate policy for the next ten months as a Schwarzman Scholar. I’m excited to take what I’ve learned in Jackson and think about how we can move people out of poverty by making clean energy investments. I’ll stay connected to Riverside and Jackson by continuing to raise money to support the economic redevelopment work Stephen is spearheading.
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Finally, many of you have asked if there are items you can purchase from Riverside to support our work. I’m excited to announce we finally have merchandise! The limited edition t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies feature Riverside’s logo on the front and an iconic image of our mural on the back. They were made by a local screenprinting company (shoutout Studio Chane), are extremely comfortable, and the revenue will go a long way in supporting our student entrepreneurs and free community programming.
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I cannot thank this community enough for the love, support, kind words, and contributions you have provided for the past few years. We couldn’t have done this without you. Please continue to stay connected to Jackson and Riverside’s story. Thank you for being a part of the journey.
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