Episode 15 | The story of Roosevelt Coffeehouse with Kenny Sipes

Summary: Water, Hunger, and Human-Trafficking – Nobody should die of preventable water-borne diseases, nobody should starve to death, and nobody should lack freedom. We sit down with Kenny Sipes, the Founder of The Roosevelt Coffeehouse here in Columbus, Ohio to talk about his (faith-based) leap from a trusted & sustainable career into entrepreneurship, all inspired
+ Read More

Summary:

Water, Hunger, and Human-Trafficking – Nobody should die of preventable water-borne diseases, nobody should starve to death, and nobody should lack freedom. We sit down with Kenny Sipes, the Founder of The Roosevelt Coffeehouse here in Columbus, Ohio to talk about his (faith-based) leap from a trusted & sustainable career into entrepreneurship, all inspired by a deep desire to make a positive impact on the world!

00:00 – Typical Conquering Columbus Intro

01:40 – Background on Kenny Sipes

02:30 – Typical day in the life of Kenny Sipes

03:20 – Kenny’s leap into entrepreneurship; what inspired it and how it unfolded

06:00 – Putting a definition on Social Justice

08:15 – Why water, hunger, and trafficking?

12:00 – Coffeeshop hopping in Nashville and the impact that it had on Kenny

15:00 – How Roosevelt’s business model supports it’s causes

20:30 – We’re a non-profit social enterprise that donates to organizations that we know are doing the work

24:50 – Where’d the name come from?

27:00 – Getting the coffeeshop off the ground

32:30 – The Summit of Greatness

33:30 – The struggles

36:00 – The support from Columbus was tremendous

38:30 – Once receipts started turning, was it all smooth sailing from there?

38:45 – We spend a lot in milk!

40:00 – The struggles don’t stop, and they just weigh on you, but you learn to roll with it and have faith!

42:10 – If I came to your house, would you give me a day?

43:45 – Joe DeLoss (Hot Chicken Takeover) became a huge mentor!

46:00 – The future of Roosevelt Coffeehouse

51:00 – Building alarm goes off and Josh runs off to make it stop; Kenny continues to spit knowledge so we didn’t cut anything. Welcome to the Conquering Columbus Podcast.

53:00 – Why did you choose (primarily) Columbus based businesses to source your products?

56:00 – What’s the relationship like between all of the Columbus based coffeeshops?

59:00 – Who are three people you’d like to have lunch with?

1:01:00 – What does “Live Uncomfortably” mean to you?

The Roosevelt Coffeehouse

Barista Parlor

The Well (Coffee Shop)

Blood Water Mission

Invisible Children

Ebenezer’s Coffeehouse

Twenty One Pilots

Stumptown Coffee

Hot Chicken Takeover

The Purpose Hotel

GiveBack Hack

Dangerous Grounds

PackH20
Support us on Patreon!