Café Gratitude

Cafe Gratitude is a small chain of restaurants serving organic, plant-based (vegan) food. There are five locations in the Los Angeles area, in Newport Beach, Venice, Larchmont Village, Beverly Hills, and in the Downtown Arts District. There are additional locations in Kansas City, Missouri, and San Diego.[1][2] A fifth restaurant in Berkeley, California, closed in 2015 after operating for 10 years[3][4], and a restaurant in San Francisco, California closed in 2011 after operating for 7 years[5]

Owners

Except for the Kansas City location, Cafe Gratitude is majority owned and managed by Love Serve Remember, LLC.[6]

Philosophy

Cafe Gratitude is said to be managed according to the principles of Sacred Commerce,[7] as outlined in a book of the same name by Matthew and Terces Engelhart. This claims to integrate the intention and philosophy of dharma – right actions, right intentions, right speech – as a way of being connected to spirit.[8]

Cafe Gratitude Controversy

Terces and Matthew Engelhart received a heated back-lash after the vegan community learned that they chose to raise and slaughter cattle on their private farm. The Engelharts themselves declined an interview request, but Terces Engelhart’s son and Cafe Gratitude’s chief operating officer said the feud against Cafe Gratitude has unfairly cast his mother and stepfather as deceptive animal killers.[9]

History

Cafe Gratitude started as a small chain of organic plant based restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area, one in Berkeley and another in Santa Cruz.[10][2]

The East Bay Express newspaper in the August 5, 2009 article, "I am Annoyed and Disappointed" reported on Cafe Gratitude's policy of suggesting employees attend the Landmark Education's Landmark Forum which the company pays for half of. Former employee Ash Ritter who was promoted to management later was demoted for not taking the Landmark Forum and subsequently fired.[11]

Previous locations also included San Francisco, San Rafael, Healdsburg, and inside the Oakland and Cupertino Whole Foods. They closed following a lawsuit filed by employees.[12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Locations | Café Gratitude that is privately held.
  2. 1 2 Schoeneman, Deborah (20 July 2011). "Power Lunch With a Side of Homilies". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  3. ↑ http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2016/06/22/sicilian-restaurant-planned-for-cafe-gratitude-space-in-north-berkeley/]
  4. ↑ [http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2016/06/22/sicilian-restaurant-planned-for-cafe-gratitude-space-in-north-berkeley/
  5. ↑ http://sfist.com/2015/11/13/cafe_gratitude_closing_its_last_bay.php
  6. ↑ "Apply for a Trademark. Search a Trademark". trademarkia.com. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  7. ↑ Bronner, Sasha (2013-11-25). "These Restaurateurs Found Their Path (And Huge Success) By Creating A Cult Of Gratitude". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  8. ↑ "Sacred Commerce Introduction - Dharma Merchant Services". Dharma Merchant Services. 2010-12-28. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  9. ↑ "Return to meat by Cafe Gratitude owners sparks vegan uproar". Daily News. 2016-05-07. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  10. ↑ Cafe Gratitude: a New Restaurant Concept and Brainchild of Two Landmark Education Graduates
  11. ↑ "I am Annoyed and Disappointed". East Bay Express.
  12. ↑ Wilkey, Robin (29 November 2011). "NO THANK YOU: Employee Lawsuits Lead Beloved Restaurants To Close". Huffington Post.
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