Help Us Save The North Branch Café

Hello friends of The North Branch Café and me!

We opened in 2013 proud of and excited to introduce great teas, high quality food for everyone, and outstanding wine to our little coffee and craft beer city. Through much experimentation and adaptation, we have managed to stay in business for 11 years.

Just as we were beginning to thrive in 2019-2020, the pandemic shattered our progress, and forced us to innovate our menu to include food that could be taken home easily. So many people working from home and so little foot traffic in town nearly broke our spirit, but PPP, SBA loans, and other generous local financial options saved the café.

We were just returning to our pre-Covid business, and then the devastating Montpelier flood dealt a huge blow to our revenue. We remained open to the quiet town that Montpelier had become, offering the comfort of our space to downtown owners and workers as soon as we had cleared out and sterilized our basement. Much of this came out of our own pocket and without crowdfunding. After investing in a new line of business and then the flood, we suffered a big loss in 2023.

Still, hopeful for 2024, we did what we normally would do and hired at the end of February for the busy start of the season in April, which never materialized. We remain very optimistic for tourism this summer and fall, but we are starting to feel the weight of the expenses hanging over us from last July to now. On top of this, we have our Covid loan principal starting to come due in August.

I love Montpelier, and I feel the love here for my business. We have active plans for its succession when I cut back at 68 years old to just being the Montpelier tea lady. I will work tirelessly to find the best transition for this place that I love. I hate to ask for help, but I do need it. I do need your help, to reach this goal of keeping the café open.

If the café has brought you happy moments or warmth, I hope that you can find it in your heart to help us stay open. I appreciate anything that you feel you could contribute and donate to this cause. And thank you in advance for just taking the time to read this and consider it.

If you would prefer to support us with a gift card purchase, you can do so with our online shop http://www.thenorth-branch.com. I would ask, if possible, that you refrain from cashing it in until August.

In gratitude for the 11 years that we have shared already and hopeful for the years to come,

Lauren