An Open Letter to the Community on Business and Democracy

To our neighbors, our partners, and the community we serve:

The past few months have been the hardest for small Black businesses in the Twin Cities. And I need to be honest with you about what we've experienced and where we stand because silence is not something we can afford right now.

We faced many trials alongside our immigrant neighbors and friends. Our business: Storehouse Grocers and Coffee: was built to be a beacon of safety and innovation on the corner of a great multicultural neighborhood. We have seen the effects of democracy done wrong. We have watched as organizing other businesses has left fear in the wake of this conflict. We have held space for families who did not know if tomorrow would be the same as today.

And through all of it we kept the doors open. We kept the coffee brewing. We kept the shelves stocked. Because that is what we do. That is who we are.

Where We Stand

Let me be absolutely clear about something.

We at Storehouse Grocers will stand with immigrants, dreamers, and naturalized citizens on all fronts. This is not a conditional statement. This is not a marketing position. This is the foundation of everything we have built and everything we will continue to build.

We will close for every labor call.

We will support families no matter the cost.

Not because we are charitable: though we believe deeply in generosity: but because we understand the roots of Black liberation in grocery retail. We understand that the corner store has always been more than a place to buy bread and milk. It has been a meeting place. A safe haven. A site of resistance. A place where community is made and remade every single day.

The History We Carry With Us

You might wonder why a grocery store talks like this. Why we speak of liberation and democracy and collective struggle when we could just sell you eggs and coffee and call it a day.

But if you know the history then you know.

Black-owned grocery stores in America have always been political. During Jim Crow they were one of the few spaces where Black communities could build wealth and independence. They were places where organizers met. Where information was shared. Where mutual aid happened before we had fancy words for it.

The lunch counter sit-ins? They happened at food establishments. The Montgomery Bus Boycott? It was sustained by Black businesses pooling resources. The Black Panther breakfast programs? They understood that feeding people is political. That nourishment is resistance.

So when we say everything is political especially food: we mean it. We are not discovering something new. We are remembering something old. We are continuing a legacy that was passed down to us whether we asked for it or not.

And we accept that responsibility with everything we have.

Democracy Is More Than Voting

Here is what I have been thinking about lately and I want to share it with you because I think it matters.

Democracy is not just something that happens every two years or every four years when we go to the polls. Democracy is happening right now. It is happening in how we treat each other. In how businesses engage with their communities. In who gets to eat and who does not. In who gets to feel safe walking down the street and who does not.

Over 80% of business leaders agree that businesses should act to protect democratic processes. And I believe that protection starts at the neighborhood level. It starts with how we show up for each other when things get hard.

When inflation hits: and it has hit hard: families in our neighborhood feel it first and feel it worst. When policies change and fear spreads through immigrant communities: our neighbors feel it first and feel it worst. When labor is exploited and workers are not valued: our community feels it first and feels it worst.

So we engage regularly in politics because it is our right and our responsibility to speak to the concerns of those who are affected. We do not pretend to be neutral when neutrality means abandoning the people who need us most.

What This Looks Like in Practice

I want to be specific because broad statements only go so far.

When there is a labor action in the Twin Cities that aligns with our values: we close our doors and we show up. Our staff does not lose pay. We absorb that cost because solidarity is not free and it should not be.

When families in our neighborhood face food insecurity: we find ways to help. Through our programs, through our partnerships, through the Storehouse Wallet that we are building to create real financial inclusion for people who have been left behind by traditional systems.

When immigrant families face uncertainty: our store is a safe space. Period. No questions asked. We will never cooperate with any effort to harm our neighbors and we will actively work to protect them.

This is what we mean by being a beacon. Not just in words but in actions. Every single day.

Hope in the Hardest Times

I will not pretend that this has been easy. It has not been easy. Some days I wonder if we are doing enough. Some days I wonder if any of it matters. Some days the weight of it all feels like too much to carry.

But then I walk into the store. And I see the regulars coming in for their morning coffee. And I see the families doing their weekly shopping. And I see our team: our incredible team: showing up with purpose and care. And I remember why we do this.

A beacon of hope when everything around us seems hopeless.

That is not just a slogan. That is a commitment. That is a practice. That is something we have to choose again and again every single day.

A Call to Our Community

So here is what I am asking of you.

If you believe in what we are building: support us. Not just with your dollars though those help too. Support us with your presence. With your voice. With your own commitment to showing up for your neighbors.

If you are a business owner wondering if you can take a stand: you can. You do not have to be perfect. You do not have to have all the answers. You just have to be willing to try. To put people over profit when it matters. To remember that your business exists within a community and that community's wellbeing is your wellbeing.

If you are an investor or partner looking at our model: understand that this is not charity. This is not feel-good marketing. This is a sustainable approach to building wealth and building community at the same time. Learn more about our model and our mission here.

And if you are a neighbor who has been feeling alone and afraid: know that you are not alone. Know that there are people and businesses and communities ready to stand with you. Know that Storehouse Grocers will be here. On this corner. In this neighborhood. For you.

Moving Forward Together

The work continues. It has to continue because stopping is not an option.

We are building something here in the Twin Cities that I believe can be a model for other communities. A grocery store that is also a community hub. A coffee shop that is also a gathering place. A fintech solution that actually serves the people who need it most. A business that proves you do not have to choose between doing good and doing well.

Democracy depends not only on laws and institutions but also on how we treat one another. That is the truth we are living by. That is the truth we are building on.

Thank you for being part of this community. Thank you for reading this letter. Thank you for caring enough to be here.

We have so much more work to do. And we are going to do it together.

With hope and determination,

Carl Johnson Founder, Storehouse Grocers and Coffee

Want to learn more about our mission and how you can support it? Visit our website or book a call with our team to explore partnership opportunities.