I started this fundraiser because I’m at a critical point in bringing Cauldron & Quill to life. After years of planning, saving, and building this business intentionally, an investor unexpectedly backed out and several startup costs came up all at once. I had prepared carefully, but that sudden shift left a gap I couldn’t close on my own without slowing or compromising the opening.
Rather than give up or cut corners on something meant to serve my community well, I decided to reach out for support. This moment felt like choosing resilience over pride—believing that asking for help can be part of building something meaningful. With the right support right now, I can move forward with confidence and open this space the way it was always intended.
I’m opening Cauldron & Quill because I know what it feels like to need a place to land.
Most of my life has been about surviving...figuring things out on my own, pushing through hard seasons, and carrying responsibility quietly. Somewhere along the way, coffee shops became more than just a drink for me. They were places where I could breathe, think, feel human again. Where no one asked too much of me, but I was still surrounded by people and possibility.
Cauldron & Quill is my way of creating that feeling for others.
I want it to be a space where you don’t have to explain yourself. Where artists, night owls, parents, students, and people who feel a little out of place can sit side by side and feel welcome. A place open late for the people who don’t fit into the 9–5 world, who do their best thinking after dark, or who just want connection without the pressure of a bar scene.
This isn’t just a business to me. It’s a reflection of everything I’ve learned about resilience, care, and community. It’s proof that even after hard chapters, you can build something warm and intentional....something that brings people together instead of pulling them apart.
I’m opening Cauldron & Quill because I believe we all deserve spaces that feel safe, creative, and human. And because I want my daughter—and this community...to see what it looks like to build something meaningful, even when it’s hard.
