Movin’ On Up: Help Double Rainbow transition to a new space

In a hurry? Read FAQ's and a quick summary on our website, https://www.doublerainbow.com.

Double Rainbow Cafe has been a mainstay in downtown San Rafael for the past 36 years, and as our beloved community, we are humbly asking for your help.

From its inception in 1988, we have strived to be a beacon to all of those in the community. Every day we greet new and familiar faces from young to old, always aiming to provide great food, fantastic service, and, most importantly, have our customers leave with a smile. Double Rainbow has been a pillar of San Rafael for nearly four decades not only serving our local community, but supporting our nonprofits through all their events.

My name is Forrest Manning. I started working at Double Rainbow in 1993. I was 16, and it was my first real job. Joanne Webster and Charlie Garfink, the original owners, and my fellow employees instilled in me a work ethic and understanding that ALL customers are to be treated like kings and queens (it even says so on the application), and these early years laid the groundwork for what was to come.

There was the running joke that one day I would take over from Joanne and Charlie; it looks like a premonition now. After two years away at college, I came back to Marin, which had become my second home at Double Rainbow. For almost every person who has ever worked at Double Rainbow, it has been their favorite job and a second family.

In 2011 I took over the cafe, cementing my love and dedication to Double Rainbow Cafe, and in turn my deep connection to the community of San Rafael.

Now, 13 years later, Double Rainbow is on the brink of another significant change after battling the pandemic and rising costs due to inflation. Our business, like so many others, have had significant financial struggles, even while we managed to survive the pandemic. To keep our business viable, we need something to change. Enter Autistry Studios.

Autistry Studios is a remarkable non-profit organization that offers programs for autistic and neurodivergent individuals. Established in 2008 by LMFT Janet Lawson and Daniel Swearingen, the program assists students in successfully transitioning into adulthood with confidence and independence. The studio provides a "maker space," a collaborative workplace led by skilled craftspeople offering therapeutic, educational, and vocational support. Autistry also maintains a retail marketplace and coffee shop at their 4th Street location.

About a year and a half ago, Autistry approached me about collaborating on their vocational program by running their coffee shop. I was extrermely flattered, because they seemed to understand that community and working with youth is so important to me.

As I deepened into the project, I grew even more grateful to be involved with such an amazing organization of individuals.

When Double Rainbow had an especially brutal winter in 2023, Janet proposed moving the ice cream shop into their space, it was a perfect fit: a win-win.

Our final day at the current location is Saturday, August 24th. An ”aloha” party will be held to say goodbye and celebrate the space that has given the Double Rainbow community so much joy and purpose over many years, as well as welcome in the new with a preview of the exciting new space and collaboration.

The fundraiser's purpose is to continue supporting those who support us. While we submitted our plans for the minor buildout in May, we are still awaiting the county's approval. We estimate a two-month delay in opening the ice cream shop (the cafe will remain open) during some of our busiest months. We want to take care of our employees whose hours will be shortened, pay our insurance, stay current with vendors, and make payments on the lease we had to break to move.

We want to thank our amazing community for the unwavering support you've shown us over the years. We are blown away by the number of people who have stepped forward to help us in this transition. You are why we are still here after all these years, and we now look to you to help us continue our journey, providing a safe and comfortable place for everyone to enjoy for generations to come.

Please visit www.doublerainbowcafe.com to read FAQ’s:

To keep tabs on our journey, be sure to visit the coffee shop at Autistry, to follow us on social media and or website, or just to reach out and say hi! Thank you truly for caring- you mean the world to us!