Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Barton.
Hi Kimberly, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
For nearly two decades, a large, unassuming building stretching across the block on SE 20th sat largely unused. Owned by a church just two blocks away, the building was no longer needed for the church’s own weekly gatherings, but its potential was hard to ignore. The church began exploring ways to put the space to use in a way that would serve the surrounding neighborhood, whether through nonprofit office space, community meeting rooms, or a practical service for local residents.
Over the years, several ideas were considered, including a laundromat. Eventually, the vision of a neighborhood coffee shop began to take shape. With someone in the community who had years of experience in the coffee industry and a willingness to bring the idea to life, the church made the space available and provided the funding to help get the shop off the ground.
The goal was to create more than just a place to buy coffee. It was an opportunity to breathe new life into an underused building and create a welcoming space where neighbors could gather, connect, and feel at home. In 2019, that vision became Eastside Coffee Bar & Workspace, the beginning of what is now Annex Coffee.
As a non-profit coffee shop very cup of coffee helps keep our doors open, supports the daily care of this space, and allows us to give back through partnerships with community-centered nonprofits. We believe that investing locally helps our neighborhood, and our city, grow and flourish together.
We’re here to foster connection, creativity, and conversation. Whether you’re collaborating on a project, working remotely, meeting a friend, or just stopping in for a great cup of coffee, you’re always welcome. Hospitality is at the heart of everything we do, and we invite you to help us create a space shared with and shaped by our neighbors.
The neighborhood welcomed and kept the cafe open through the ups and downs of COVID, afterwards, the workspace seemed to serve the neighborhood well! After a few years, the director decided to rebrand and change its name from Eastside Coffee Bar and Workspace, a lengthy name, to Annex Coffee. To better represent the cafe, neighborhood and refresh the cafes identity, Annex Coffee stands out as a clear representation. We are an extension of our neighborhood and want to be their annex for working, gathering and as a community.
I moved to Portland in 2020 for graduate school and first came to Annex as a volunteer in May 2021. I fell in love with the neighborhood, the mission, and the heart behind the coffee shop, and by August, I had joined the staff. Although this was my first time working in a coffee shop, I had spent four years working in hospitality, and I was drawn to the opportunity to be part of something that served the community in such a tangible way.
In February 2022, our manager and operator had to move on unexpectedly, and the board offered me the opportunity to step into the role. I had never run a business before, let alone a nonprofit coffee shop. It’s a unique model in an industry where margins are already incredibly thin. You don’t start a coffee shop like this to make money. You do it because you believe in what a space like this can mean for a community. That became especially clear during my first year managing the shop, which was a steep learning curve in just about every way.
As I learned the ropes, though, I found that I genuinely loved the ins and outs of running a cafe. Small businesses and coffee shops are such an important part of the fabric of a neighborhood. They create opportunities for the kinds of everyday interactions that turn strangers into familiar faces and neighbors into friends. I’ve been here ever since, and what started as an unexpected opportunity has become something I’m deeply invested in.
In 2023, I began dreaming about a new name and identity for the shop. While Eastside Coffee Bar & Workspace described what we did, I wanted a name that carried more feeling and character, something that represented our relationship with the neighborhood rather than simply describing our services. Annex felt like a natural fit. We were an extension of the neighborhood, a place people could come to work, gather, create, and connect.
One of the best parts of that process was finding a graphic designer who happened to live just three blocks away and already loved both the coffee shop and the neighborhood. She helped bring the vision for Annex to life through the design and branding, which made the whole process feel even more connected to the community we wanted to represent.
Since then, it’s been incredible to watch this space continue to grow into what we imagined. I love all the different pieces of running a small business, from dreaming up future plans and seasonal menus to creating events that bring people together. But above all, I love getting to know and care for our employees and neighbors. We have an incredible team, and each person brings their own personality, perspective, and color to the work we do. That’s what makes Annex feel like Annex, and it’s what keeps me excited about what we’re building together.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but some of the hardest seasons have also shown us what makes this place so special.
We opened in 2019, just before the pandemic changed everything. For a coffee shop built around gathering, working alongside one another, and connecting face-to-face, COVID presented some obvious challenges as we limited our indoor service. Foot traffic disappeared, people were no longer coming in to work or meet friends, and like so many small businesses, we faced real uncertainty about whether we would be able to keep our doors open.
What carried us through was the neighborhood. People rallied around us in ways we’ll never forget, ordering online, purchasing gift cards, donating, and even volunteering their time as baristas. That kind of support made a tangible difference in keeping us going. It was a powerful reminder that this space mattered to people and that the relationships we were building were worth investing in.
On a personal level, stepping into the role of operator in 2022 brought its own learning curve. I had never run a business before, and there is so much to learn about the day-to-day realities of operating a cafe, from managing finances and staffing to developing menus and keeping the business sustainable. Thankfully, Portland has such a generous coffee community. Other shop owners and people throughout the industry were willing to share their knowledge, answer questions, and help me learn along the way. That support has meant a lot.
Over time, we’ve really seen Annex come into its own. Our location is a huge part of that. We’re in a neighborhood where people value local businesses and genuine connection, and we’ve been able to grow alongside the community around us. The challenges haven’t disappeared, and running a small business is never without its uncertainties, but we’ve learned so much along the way. More than anything, we’ve seen how much a place like this can mean to a neighborhood when people choose to make it their own.
As you know, we’re big fans of Annex Coffee. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Annex Coffee is a nonprofit coffee shop built on the idea that a small business can be part of something much bigger than itself. Our name reflects that belief. An annex is an extension of something else, and we see our role as an extension of the neighborhood around us. We can be your home office for the afternoon, a gathering place for friends, or a space for local organizations to connect and do their work. We want to add something meaningful to the life already happening in our neighborhood.
What makes our model unique is that the coffee shop itself helps support a larger mission. Through partnerships and giving, we’ve supported community groups, schools, environmental care initiatives, and organizations serving children and families impacted by foster care. Rather than trying to do all of this work ourselves, we want to come alongside those already making a difference. A cup of coffee might seem like a small thing, but it’s one way people can participate in something that reaches far beyond our four walls.
What I’m most proud of, though, is the team behind it all. Our staff are the ones who turn an idea into a lived experience, bringing care, creativity, and personality to the shop every day. They remember regulars, welcome new faces, and make this space feel alive. Each person brings something different to the table, and together, they’ve created a culture of hospitality that no branding or mission statement could manufacture. The nonprofit mission gives us our purpose, but our people are what make it real.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is being neighborly. My faith is a big part of that, but I also believe that knowing and caring for the people around us is what keeps a community connected. It’s easy to move through our days without really noticing the people we share a neighborhood with, but I think building community starts with something much simpler: being present.
It’s walking out your front door to visit a park, stopping by the farmers market, shopping at a local business, or learning the name of the person making your latte. And then, hopefully, it goes a little further. You learn what someone cares about, what they’re going through, what makes them laugh, and what makes them who they are. They become more than just a familiar face. They become a person you know.
I think being seen and known is the first step toward loving and caring for someone. When we know our neighbors as individuals, we’re more likely to notice when they need help, celebrate when something good happens, and take responsibility for the well-being of the place we share. That’s a big part of why Annex matters to me. A coffee shop can create so many small opportunities for those connections to happen naturally. We may not change the world with every cup of coffee, but we can help create a neighborhood where people know one another, look out for one another, and feel like they belong. To me, that’s where a strong community begins.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://annexcoffeepdx.com/
- Instagram: @annexcoffeepdx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annexcoffeepdx/
