Community is cafe's bottom line

Our economic culture is going to change.

No one knows just yet how we will rebuild our economic lives, but I'm betting the aptly named Mosaic is a piece of the puzzle.

A friend in Wallingford raved to me about this neighborhood cafe that calls itself a community coffee house. It's a nonprofit run by Seattle First Church of the Nazarene.

At Mosaic, there are no prices on the menu. Instead there is a wooden box into which customers put whatever payment they think is fair.

Mosaic chose its vendors based on their ethics — local companies that treat their employees and suppliers well.

And each month, Mosaic slices off 10 percent of what it takes in and gives it to a charity or nonprofit. What's left pays expenses, including one full-time and two part-time employees. Ten volunteers keep costs low, and so far patrons have paid enough to balance the books.

As a business model, it would make Wall Street cringe.

Greed and irresponsibility cooked up the economic stew we are in and left us looking for new recipes that won't include profiteering blind to its impact on people or the planet.

Of course, the folks at Mosaic didn't start out with anything so grandiose as restructuring the economy in mind.

Tim Smith took a moment away from making mochas to talk about the cafe.

He's a tall, athletic-looking 28-year-old who wanted to create a comfortable place for students from the University of Washington to hang out and do homework.

He sees it as part of his ministry. The cafe is in the daylight basement of Seattle First Church of the Nazarene on Second Avenue Northeast and Northeast 44th Street.

The lead pastor, Mark Woodward, wanted to integrate the church into the neighborhood.

Sometimes people are wary, thinking the cafe will proselytize. But Smith says creating space for community is the cafe's expression of Christianity. "We are faith-based but we are not annoying."

The music is mellow secular stuff, the art on the walls by local artists — a different one every couple of months.

Of course, there was a bit of a miracle when they were planning the cafe.

The large basement was a bunch of small storage rooms until a flood trashed it. Insurance money and donations allowed them to create a better space, which opened March 31, 2007.

The main room is tables and chairs, love seats in various configurations. There is Wi-Fi and Friday performances by local groups.

A room on one side is set up for meetings. Several nonprofits take advantage of it.

On the other side is a family-friendly playroom, with tables and chairs for parents, play structures and toys for kids.

Helen Wu and Ann Allen met in that room. Each has two preschoolers, and Wu said she likes that "parents can enjoy a cup of coffee without bothering other people."

Mosaic is nonprofit, but its suppliers aren't, and they also weave ideals and business together.

A business that operates as if community and the environment matter can flourish.

It won't make a killing, but maybe that's a blessing.

Jerry Large's column appears Monday and Thursday. Reach him at 206-464-3346 or jlarge@seattletimes.com.