Established July 2007 Street address 300 Thayer Street Country United States City Providence Postal code/zip 02906 | Dress code Casual Postal/ZIP code 02906 Reservations No Food type Coffee | |
 | ||
Founded July 2007, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Profiles | ||
Blue state coffee thayer street providence ri college hill liberal cafe brown university
Blue State Coffee runs coffee stores in Providence, Rhode Island, New Haven, Connecticut, Hartford, Connecticut, and Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The company donates 2% of sales to "local, progressive" causes, and has given over $440,000 as of spring 2014.
Contents
Blue state coffee with enthusiasm
History
The company launched a website in September 2006. The first store opened in July 2007 on Thayer Street in Providence, near Brown University.
In February 2009, Blue State Coffee opened two more stores: one in the Brown University Bookstore and another in New Haven, near Yale University
In May 2010, Blue State Coffee opened a fourth store in New Haven, again close to Yale University. A fifth store opened in September 2010 on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston.
In September 2012, the sixth store opened in New Haven near the Yale Hospital.
Media
Blue State Coffee has received coverage in Vanity Fair, the Hartford Courant, the Providence Journal, Yale Daily News and The Brown Daily Herald, amongst other newspapers.
Political involvement
Blue State Coffee claims it is motivated by liberal ideals. While not a part of any political organization, the cafes frequently host speakers and events for a variety of causes. Notable speakers have included Al Franken (while running for senate in Minnesota), Kal Penn (while campaigning for Barack Obama), and Craig Robinson (Michelle Obama's brother).
Philanthropy
As of November 2013, Blue State Coffee has donated over $400,000 to non-profit organizations in New Haven, Providence and Boston. In New Haven, these organizations include All Our Kin, the Connecticut Food Bank, LEAP, CitySeed, Yale's Dwight Hall, the Festival of Arts and Ideas, JUNTA for Progressive Action, and New Haven Reads. In Providence, these organizations include Summerbridge, Farm Fresh RI, and Marriage Equality RI.