Slow Bloom Opens Full Time

Slow Bloom Coffee Cooperative officially opened full time on March 7. The fully-unionized shop grew out of Augie’s Union, which formed when Augie's Coffee illegally terminated employees for organizing in 2020.

Following their termination, the union filed complaints with the National Labor Relations Board and hosted several pop-ups at The Artlands and other local spaces. Slow Bloom obtained their own building on Colton Avenue in December 2021.

For several weeks, the coffee shop has been holding limited weekend hours, which drew enthusiastic crowds and long lines. As of this Monday, they will be open seven days a week, from seven to seven.

Among their offerings are flavored lattes, chai tea, and espresso tonic. Drinks can be made with oat milk at no extra charge. 

Slow Bloom member Gabe Perez said the official launch feels “unreal.” “It’s nice to not have someone breathing down your neck,” Perez said. “It’s nice to be your own boss.”

Member Jina Imani agrees the opening feels “stupendous.” The hardest part in getting to this point, Imani said, was “finding the strength to keep going.”

Perez confirmed it was difficult “getting so much pushback. We just pushed through it.”

Melodye Anderson, Slow Bloom member and purveyor of Mother Barista Vegan Treats, said the opening feels “kind of crazy.” “I don’t think it will fully hit me until a couple weeks. It still feels like we’re popping up,” she said. However, Anderson is sure the space will feel “like a second home pretty soon.” She hopes they can get more artwork on the walls and she hopes “everybody in the community feels like it’s a safe space for them, everybody is included, and feels welcome.”