JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville coffee shop known for creating a welcoming space for people with special needs is now facing an uncertain future. The owner of Noah’s Agape Café says rising rent and a forced move are putting the café at risk, prompting a call for community support.
For the past three years, Noah’s Agape Café has served as more than just a place for coffee, it’s been a gathering space built on inclusion. Owner Beckie Schwartz started the café in honor of her son Noah, with a mission to provide employment opportunities for people with special needs while teaching valuable, real-life job skills.
Now, that mission is being challenged. Schwartz says the building housing the café has been sold, meaning they’ll need to relocate. With rent expected to increase at a new location, she says keeping the café open will depend heavily on support from the community…