Refuge Coffee House

9217 SE Foster Rd, Portland, OR 97266

refugecoffeepdx.com

(503) 477-7048

  • Tell us your name, the name of your business and what you offer
    • Our names are Keith and Kimi Richardson. We own Refuge Coffee House and we offer Espresso, Coffee, Tea, Pastries, Breakfast, and Lunch.

    When and how did you start your business?

    • We started our business September 2019. We fell in love with the area and wanted to help make a difference in the community. 

    What sacrifices have you had to make along the way?

    • We sacrificed selling our house, investing everything, and working extra hours. 

    How has the pandemic affected you and your business?

    • The pandemic resulted in us taking on new loans, giving up our apartment and renting a room. We also laid off employees to keep the business open. Now we have employees back and business is growing. The bad effect was that it slowed our progress. The good effect is that our community learned that they can count on us even during hard times.

     What are the things that make you happy while working? 

    • Things that make us happy while working is having conversations with customers and connecting the customers together as a community to meet different needs. 

    What has been the most challenging part about owning a business?

    • The most challenging part about owning a business is the long hours and trying to find time to rest. 

    Can you tell us about your family?

    • We’ve been married 25 years. We have 4 young adult daughters and 2 doggies. We work, live, and go to church in Lents. 

    What do you enjoy about our community?

    • We love the diversity of people and their hopeful attitude that our Lents community will continue to grow and change into a healthier neighborhood. We also like how neighbors and businesses communicate well with each other and keep an eye out for each other.

    What changes would you like to see in your community?

    • While we want our troubled and homeless neighbors to take advantage of the resources available to change their lives, we would also like the ones who commit crimes to be charged with those crimes. We feel because there has been no consequences over the last year and a half that the crime has increased.

    A message you would like to share with teenagers.

    • “Whenever you are struggling don’t give up HOPE. Seek out People and Faith to build you up and encourage you. We are built for relationships. People need People.”

    A message you would like to share to people in the Lents neighborhood.

    • “May our HOPE for the future be the fuel that compels us to generous compassion and action in our community.”