Kaldi’s Social House has been featured in Sprudge, an international publication that covers the coffee industry.
The article, in which Kaldi’s owner Tsega Hailemariam is interviewed, discusses the shop’s history, as well as its strong ties to the community and their relationship with their customers:
A large part of Kaldi’s success is owed to its strong ties to the local community. Combining the familiar and popular coffeehouse that US Americans have come to rely on with the welcoming spirit and communal culture of Ethiopian coffee has paid off. In 2017 the Maryland General Assembly’s District 20 Delegation even recognized the cafe with a citation “For its role in strengthening our diverse community by providing a delightfully inclusive community space for all to enjoy.” In addition to its welcoming atmosphere, the cafe tries to invest in Silver Spring through charity involvement. “When the customer comes in, I don’t want them to think about getting coffee, but to think they are supporting the community,” says Haile, “I want to create relationships with customers.”
Kaldi’s is slated to reopen Thursday, April 15, after being closed since mid-March for renovations, which saw the shop’s rooftop under renovation and enclosure.
The roof had been an issue with Thayer & Spring apartment residents unhappy about the noise from Kaldi’s and businesses along Georgia Avenue, Hailemariam said in March.
Meanwhile, he still plans to open a new restaurant in the former Pacci’s Neapolitan Pizzeria location. Like many other businesses, the pandemic has made finances difficult.
“We are negotiating with the landlord and he’s working with me,” Hailemariam said, “and hopefully I’m going to get back and start the construction.”
Photo: Kaldi’s Social House/Facebook