King’s Kitchen closed, but these Charlotte area businesses also give back to the community
Editor’s note: This story was updated on Dec. 20, 2024
The King’s Kitchen, a not-for-profit restaurant in uptown that offered Christian-centered job training and discipleship while also feeding those in need, closed down this week. But it wasn’t the only place in the Charlotte area doing this kind of work — there are at least 15 other businesses where you can give back by eating, drinking and shopping.
Studies have found that customers prefer to support purpose-driven businesses when possible, according to Forbes. It can be much more fulfilling to enjoy a $5+ latte knowing that it supports a good cause such as helping those with special needs or providing job experience for the formerly incarcerated.
It’s been said that those who are happiest are the ones who do the most for others. That can apply to shopping and dining experiences in Charlotte, as well. With that in mind, here are 15 Charlotte area businesses that give back to the community.
Bitty & Beau’s Coffee
Location: 1930 Camden Rd Ste 236, Charlotte, NC
What to know: Bitty & Beau’s tagline is “A human rights movement disguised as a coffee shop,” and its mission is to change the way people love, include and respect others. Named the Best Coffee Shop in Charlotte by CharlotteFive readers, the business is run by staffers with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Customers seem to really love the vibe, and it’s a bonus that the coffee is delicious, too. A Yelp review from Jose A. probably sums it up best: “This place has it all: great coffee, awesome vibe and great staff. You will be supporting a great cause if you come here. … Overall, 100% recommended!“
Instagram: @bittyandbeauscoffee
Cakeable
Location: 401 North Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28202
What to know: This Charlotte bakery serves up delicious sweets while also teaching job skills to young people with mental and physical disabilities. The business opened its first brick-and-mortar cafe in April 2024 while continuing to practice customer service skills by selling baked goods at Uptown Farmers Market and other locations.
Instagram: @wearecakeable
Change Please Coffee
Location: Innovation Barn; 932 Seigle Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Change Please Coffee opened in March 2023 at Innovation Barn in Charlotte’s Belmont neighborhood. The UK-based nonprofit’s first U.S. location helps women experiencing homelessness by providing paid training, therapy and help with employment. Every 562 cups of Change Please Coffee sold generates enough money to pay for a day of barista training, so drink up.
Charleston Coffee Roasters
Location: Your nearby Harris Teeter
What to know: Next time you’re at Harris Teeter, check out Charleston Coffee Roasters. Every purchase of coffee from the Charleston-based roasters goes to support the rehabilitation of sea turtles and other marine animals via the South Carolina Nutritional Care program. Recently, the coffee company’s adopted sea turtle, Jo, was rehabilitated and released back into the wild. Now, the roaster is hosting a contest to name its new sea turtle. You could win coffee, tickets to the Charleston aquarium and more.
Cherubs Café in Belmont
Location: 23 North Main Street, Belmont, NC 28012
What to know: This quaint café in downtown Belmont operated by Holy Angels offers employment for those with intellectual developmental disabilities and delicate medical conditions. The menu has a little bit of everything – from a jumbo breakfast sandwich loaded with sausage and eggs to the Cherubs classic chicken salad sandwich, East End cobb salad or chicken bacon ranch wraps. Don’t forget dessert – the mega milkshakes are massive. Its sister operations Bliss Gallery, Cotton Candy Factory and Spruced Goose Station have the same mission.
Instagram: @cherubscafe
Community Culinary School of Charlotte
Location: 9315 Monroe Rd # D, Charlotte, NC 28270
What to know: The Community Culinary School of Charlotte aims to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty, particularly for people with arrest records and addiction. Its 14-week program teaches culinary arts, job-readiness skills, life skills and goal-setting to help students obtain self-sufficiency and economic mobility while offering dine-in and takeout services weekdays for breakfast and lunch.
Instagram: @ccscencore
Community Matters Cafe
Location: 821 West 1st Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
What to know: This coffee shop, which is consistently ranked among Charlotte’s top cafes, serves up more than just good coffee and food. It was founded with a mission to help the formerly incarcerated and those with addictions get back on their feet. The café is an extension of Charlotte Rescue Mission, a faith-based recovery program that provides life skills, housing support, transportation and more to help those in need achieve long-term sobriety, find financial stability and build healthy relationships.
Instagram: @communitymatterscafe
Love in Action Cafe
Location: 4419 Tuckaseegee Road, Charlotte, NC 28208
What to know: Love in Action Cafe is a new vegan restaurant that serves locally sourced comfort food with a menu that changes weekly. Thirty percent of the cafe’s sales benefit the non-profit outreach program Love in Action, which provides housing, programs and services to those in need — primarily focusing on veterans, the elderly and the disabled.
Instagram: @loveinactioncafe
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Moxie Mercantile
Location: 2008 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Location: 219 Main St., Suite 101, Fort Mill SC 29715
Location: 19 N. Trade St Matthews NC 28105
Location: (Betty by Moxie) 1219 Thomas Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Moxie Mercantile, a boutique that offers clothing, gifts and home goods, gives back through partnerships with local charities. The woman-owned small business has generated more than $150,000 in impact through partnerships with local nonprofits including the Humane Society of York County, Transcend Charlotte, Go Jen Go and the Isabella Santos Foundation.
Richard’s Coffee Shop
Location: 165 N. Main St., Mooresville, NC 28115
What to know: This living military museum in Mooresville has been dubbed “The most Patriotic Coffee Shop in America.” It is a non-profit coffee shop and living military museum that provides a place of support, healing and camaraderie for veterans and their families. All proceeds go directly toward aiding veterans. Of note: Veterans receive free coffee on Thursdays.
Instagram: @richardscoffeeshop
Tacos4Life
Location: 120 Marketplace Ave, Unit D, Mooresville, NC 28117
Location: 3351 Pineville-Matthews Road, Suite 300, Charlotte, NC 28226
Location: 4923 Trojan Dr #110, Charlotte, NC 28278
Location: 2940 Derita Road, Suite 40, Concord, NC 28027
Location: 1716 Kenilworth Ave #150, Charlotte, NC 28203 (opening soon)
What to know: Taco Tuesdays don’t get any better than knowing that for each meal you buy, a meal is donated to a child in need. And not just on Tuesdays. At the quickly growing chain Tacos4Life, every taco, bowl, nacho plate, salad or quesadilla purchased will benefit the restaurant’s Feed My Starving Children program, which provides MannaPack Rice Meals to children in need. These packs are made up of rice, vitamins, soy and vegetables and are sent to more than 70 countries, where they are distributed through schools, orphanages and care centers. A new location is set to open soon, too.
Instagram: @tacos4lifegrill
Tender Hearts Thrift Stores
Location: 132 South Main Street, Clover, SC 29710
Location: 511 B C Moore Drive, Chester, SC 29706
Location: 1025 Anderson Road N., Rock Hill, SC 29730
Location: 17 E Madison Street, York, SC 29745
What to know: Tender Hearts Ministry is a non-profit Christian organization with thrift shops in Clover, York, Rock Hill and Chester. The resale store offers gently used items like clothing, accessories, shoes, bedding, toys, household items and more, with proceeds going to help the homeless, those struggling with drug addictions and people coming from abusive situations.
Instagram: @tender_hearts_ministries
The Market for Others
Location: 412 Tom Hall Street, Fort Mill, SC 29715
What to know: This cozy shop near downtown Fort Mill is filled with furniture, artwork, home accents and gifts for all occasions, with new inventory arriving almost weekly. And when you pick up a little something for yourself at The Market for Others, you’re also helping provide a little something to others. Every month, The Market will select a new local charity and proceeds from the month are donated to that charity.
Instagram: @marketbuildabox
UMAR Arts centers
Location: 3015 South Tryon Street, Suite 101, Charlotte, NC 28217
What to know: Headquartered in Charlotte, with additional art centers in Lincolnton and Reidsville, UMAR empowers adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through residential, employment and cultural enrichment opportunities. The art centers bring out their creative sides and encourage self-expression through visual, performing, cultural and culinary arts, among other activities. These artists then are given a chance to sell and showcase their work in local gallery shows.
Instagram: @umarwnc
Zabs Place
Location: 100 N Trade St, Matthews, NC 28105
What to know: This thrift boutique helps train and employ young adults with special needs. The store sells everything from clothing to books to furniture, along with vintage items and homemade gifts created by the shop’s own “ZABSpreneurs.” Zabs’ ultimate goal is to train these individuals to their talents and support their transition to rewarding careers.
Instagram: @zabsplace
Melissa Oyler and Heidi Finley contributed.
This story was originally published April 10, 2023 at 6:30 AM.
