Update: Coffee shop's mission to help homeless collides with business realities

Saja Hindi
The Coloradoan
Barista Benjamin Euresti hands back Matthew Stringer's cup after topping it off with hot water on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2017, at LoCo Artisan Coffee House in Loveland, Colo.

UPDATE 2/17/18: LoCo Artisan Coffee House is not going away, after all. Loveland resident Shane Ritter has purchased the shop and intends to continue the model of helping Loveland's homeless population, with the help of former owner Brian Schuetz and former investor Eileen Walker. It is set to reopen in March.

LOVELAND — Every day for the past four years, Brian Schuetz started his day before 4:30 a.m. and ended it after 11 p.m.

By 5:15 a.m., he'd be picking up supplies for the Loveland coffee shop he owned. Then he'd head to LoCo Artisan Coffee House, make sure everything was set up for its 6 a.m. opening and head to his other job at a bakery in Johnstown.

He'd work at the bakery until 2:30 p.m. and be right back to LoCo until well after the 9 p.m. closing, cleaning up and getting ready for the next day.

Schuetz did that every day until his shop at 544 Cleveland Ave. in Loveland closed its doors earlier this month.

The work was always about more than just making a living and getting through each day. It wasn't just that Schuetz was always smiling or having conversations with his customers.

It wasn't just that Schuetz loves coffee. Even more than that, he wanted to create a place that welcomed everyone, including homeless people in Loveland.

In one corner, a "Pay It Forward" board hung on the wall, with sticky notes from patrons who paid for drinks or food for those who needed it.

In front of the cash register, a basket full of scarves and other warm winter gear sat, the items inside available for free.

A prominent wall was painted red with the word "#Visible" written at the top. On that wall, pictures and biographies of homeless men and women in the community were on display. 

Any time a person who was homeless walked in, he or she could expect to get a cup of coffee for free.

But it's that same atmosphere that Schuetz and his business investor Eileen Walker say turned some patrons away. 

The business plan started out simple, Schuetz said, and then it quickly evolved.

"It wasn't supposed to be what it became," he said.

Fort Collins:Council says no to funding homeless lockers, eyes Murphy Center expansion

Eventually, Loco became a place where homeless people could go to grab a bite to eat, get out of the cold and relax. It was also a place they could go to receive help. And at one point, it even became a place where Schuetz offered a young homeless man a job.

LoCo hosted events and fundraisers, from live music events to comedy shows that addressed issues of community importance.

Schuetz said Walker, whom he referred to as a "powerhouse," became heavily involved in trying to connect homeless people with resources, spearheading a group out of the coffee shop called Broom Tree. The aim was simple: Connect homeless people with resources they needed and lead outreach efforts such as the #Visible campaign.

"My vision was very similar to Brian's in that the homeless were incredibly important," Walker said. "I did not want (LoCo) to be a coffee shop for homeless people. I wanted it to be a coffee shop for everybody where everybody was welcome."

Former barista Melissa Santana could attest to that.

"It's home for a lot of people," she said. "A lot of people can come there, where they don't feel like they can be other places."

The #Visible campaign was an important one for the LoCo partners.

"It's really just about telling their stories and getting people to understand that the homeless are people," Schuetz said. "They're good and they're bad; they're law-breaking and law-abiding; and they're human."

Much of what LoCo did centered on the idea that in order to solve the problem of homelessness, people had to understand the issues surrounding it and the people suffering from it. For Schuetz, it was about giving a voice to those who needed it.

But for some, a welcoming atmosphere for homeless people was an unwelcoming one for them.

Walker said not everyone was comfortable seeing a homeless person sitting across from them, sometimes rummaging through their backpacks. That was evidenced in some online reviews people left about the coffee shop.

"Most people want to help the homeless; they just don't want to hang out with them," Schuetz said. "I get it ... and I can't blame them for it. I just wish it were different."

Story continues below photo.

Barista Benjamin Euresti brews a shot of expresso for a customer's "shot in the dark" on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2017, at LoCo Artisan Coffee House in Loveland, Colo.

The Loveland native said he doesn't want to take away from the work many in the Loveland community are doing for homeless people. But there isn't one solution to the problem, and those who complain about homelessness are often waiting for someone else to fix the problem.

"Loveland is smart; Loveland has the money," Schuetz said. "And the people in Loveland are wonderful. If they really put their minds to it, we could really put a huge dent in the homeless situation. But it's not a priority for them."

Schuetz acknowledged that the homeless patrons in the coffee shop weren't the only reason the business didn't succeed. He said looking back, he probably would have done some things differently, whether it was ensuring his neighboring businesses didn't have problems with his homeless customers or making different business-related decisions.

Walker said the location didn't do them any favors either. It was far enough from Fourth Street, often considered the heart of downtown, that people didn't necessarily just pass by it, and parking in downtown is difficult.

One thing Schuetz wouldn't change, though, is creating a place that's welcoming for everyone.

"It starts with a person, and everybody's story is different and everybody's needs are different," he said. "And you can't come up with a single solution, but it's important for people to know that and not be afraid of (homeless) people."

Schuetz is proud of Broom Tree and LoCo's work helping a few people off the streets, encouraging better behavior and continuing the conversation about homelessness in Loveland.

"Finding healthy solutions to the homeless situation benefits everybody; it benefits the homeless; it benefits the business owners; it benefits the property owners; it benefits visitors," he said. "There's almost no one that it doesn't help. We have to keep it toward the top of the city's to-do list."

When it was announced the coffee shop was closing, cards and letters of support came pouring in. On its final day earlier this month, celebrating its past four years, the coffee house had live music throughout the day, reminiscent of events often held on weekends. People streamed in throughout the day, wishing a teary-eyed Schuetz the best in his next endeavors.

And he was presented with a certificate, signed by homeless people in Loveland, thanking him for his constant support.

Even though his shop is closing, Schuetz isn't letting it discourage him from continuing to pursue efforts to help homeless people in Loveland and create spaces where everyone from the community is welcome.

Reporter Saja Hindi covers public safety and local politics. You can follow her on Twitter @BySajaHindi or email her at shindi@coloradoan.com.

Also in Loveland:

Loveland pushing ahead on broadband without citywide vote

Craft beer finds its next Northern Colorado home in Loveland