Coffee Mansion and BookBar
Future home of a community-centered coffee house, bookstore, and creative learning space. Rooted to honor Kinloch’s history, celebrate Black voices and authors, and cultivate connection, curiosity, and shared ideas for the future.
Why Kinloch?
Kinloch’s story is one of resilience, culture, and unwavering community.
And so are we.
Historic neighborhoods like Kinloch carry a deep legacy, strength, and significance. They deserve care, resources, and spaces that reflect the value of the people who call them home. Where institutions may have fallen short, the community has always stepped forward.
The Coffee Mansion & BookBar is being created as more than a café or bookstore. It is a space to gather, learn, read, heal, and grow. A place where conversations spark ideas, where creativity feels at home, and where representation lives on every shelf. From specialty coffee and thoughtfully crafted pastries to book clubs, youth programs, CPR training, and babysitter certifications, this space is designed to nourish both mind and community.
This project is about pouring back. Uplifting Black voices, fostering connection, and building something meaningful and lasting, together. It is a reminder that through collective investment and belief, St. Louis can continue to grow into a safer, richer, and more opportunity-filled city.
What will we do?
Inside this restored historic building, we are thoughtfully creating a space designed for connection, culture, and community:
- A cozy specialty coffee bar featuring signature drinks and freshly crafted pastries
- A book bar and reading lounge, including a curated section highlighting local and Black authors
- Kinloch Under Glass — “A Living Archive of Missouri’s First Black Incorporated City”
- a permanent installation dedicated to preserving and celebrating the legacy of Kinloch through archival newspapers, storytelling, and shared history
- A flexible event space designed for book clubs, workshops, and community gatherings
- Youth-centered programming literacy nights, entrepreneurship talks, and creative labs
- A maker’s corner showcasing local small businesses, crafters, and artists
- Outdoor seating designed to host pop-ups, conversations, and neighborhood events
This is more than a business. It is a community investment. A space intended to add life, foot traffic, safety, pride, and opportunity back into a neighborhood at the heart of redevelopment.
Who am I?
My name is Shannon Coleman, founder of The Coffee Mansion + BookBar.
I’ve lived in many different states and experienced many different places, but nothing has ever compared to home. Kinloch is where my roots are, where my memories live, and where my family, friends, and community remain. Choosing to build this space here was never a question; it was intentional, personal, and deeply important to me.
For me, this project is about more than opening a business. It is about keeping land, opportunity, and investment within the family and the community. It is about believing in the value of the neighborhood that raised me. While so many have felt forced to leave St. Louis, uncertain of a future where they or their children can truly flourish, I have always seen the potential right here in our backyard.
This dream is one I’ve carried for years, and I’m honored to finally make it real, right here in Kinloch, Missouri.
But this isn’t just my dream. It is a space our community has needed for a long time:
A place to sit. A place to breathe. A place to read, connect, laugh, study, work, heal, and feel safe.
The Coffee Mansion will be that.
Where you come in!
The Coffee Mansion + BookBar is currently under renovation, with a planned opening in May 2026. Bringing this vision to life requires significant investment, and every stage of construction moves us closer to creating a space that belongs to the community.
Renovation, equipment, and licensing costs are real, and your support directly helps fund:
- Building renovations and essential repairs
- Commercial espresso equipment
- Furniture, shelving, and reading spaces
- Books and curated inventory
- Community programming and youth initiatives
Every contribution, no matter the size, is an investment in Kinloch’s future. Your support is not simply helping open a business; it is helping build a gathering place, a cultural space, and a lasting resource for the community.
Together, we are creating something meaningful.
When you choose to support The Coffee Mansion + BookBar, you are doing far more than donating. You are actively participating in something larger:
- Supporting a Black woman–owned business
- Contributing to the revitalization of a historic community
- Helping create a safe, welcoming space for youth and families
- Encouraging literacy and fostering a love of reading in the next generation
- Expanding jobs, opportunities, and local investment
- Building a future home for creativity, connection, and culture
Your support becomes part of this space. It will live in the walls, the pages, the coffee, the conversations, and the everyday moments that unfold here.
What you give today helps shape what this community can experience tomorrow.
The Coffee Mansion and Bookstore pop-up market will allow vendors to begin setup at 8:00 AM. Each vendor space will be approximately 11×11 feet. Vendors are responsible for bringing their own tables, chairs, and tents.
Please note that all vendor fees are non-refundable. In the event of rain or severe weather, the market will be rescheduled to a later weekend date.
