This past weekend I was able to visit Central Cafe and Juice Bar, owned by Bridgett Johnson. A very sweet and thoughtful woman who created and completely independently started the Black-owned business here in the Central District community. I was honored to interview Mrs. Johnson who expressed to me that she created her cafe not only to have a safe space for Garfield students and the community but, to also show the community that there’s more to having a community cafe.
Mrs. Johnson, an alumnus of Garfield High School, created Central Cafe so that there was a place where people from all walks of life can come together and have somewhere to hang out. Since she didn’t during her years. Since Johnson opened her business, it has been booming! Her greatest achievement is that she was able to do this on her own, taking a chance and stepping out on faith. There have been some bumps in her journey due to ignorance but she’s done nothing but persevere through it all with help of not only the community but the mayor of Seattle as well on numerous occasions. Johnson mentioned that her biggest issue so far has been not having capital for her current location.
It all started with Johnson’s love for the food business and the food industry. Working long hours at Whole Foods, she had had enough and wanted to pave her own way in the business.So, Johnson packed up her things, took one of her closest friends at Whole Foods, and started on a journey to greatness. Starting with giving that friend the opportunity to join Johnson on this journey as her chef. Johnson expressed that her favorite food and beverage from the menu is vegan Smile on the Block Blacken Chicken Sandwich, the Central Chicken Cesar, and whatever the soup of the day is. Johnson also expressed that the craziest creation she’s made was the Carrot in Paradise smoothie and the vegan Banh Mi that is made with jackfruit.
Johnson has always been about supporting others and her people, she’s all about connections and family. When my mother and I visited her current first location, she was friendly, welcoming, and nurturing. I felt comfortable not only because she looked like me but because it felt comfortable. She didn’t treat us like just any old customer, she made sure that everything was to our liking and had this positive powerful energy that just made me smile. Even before she knew who I was.
I was able to connect with Johnson on a personal level as well. It was inspiring and wonderful to hear that even though she is a businesswoman, she’ll drop everything for her family. Johnson mentioned that during COVID time, there was a passing in the family, and she completely closed down to be there for her family. Not many business owners do that, they tend to worry about the money they’ll be losing but Johnson doesn’t do it for the money, it’s for the people, the outer family she’s created. Which is how my mother and I felt when speaking with her.
Johnson has this warm and inviting, it felt as though I was speaking with someone in my family versus an interview. I was able to try out the delicious Chicken Club with a strawberry Italian soda, and my mom had the Central Cesar with a hot totty. Both were delicious(I took some of hers) and even while we were eating both Johnson and her daughter spoke with us the entire time. I’ll definitely be going back and keeping an eye out for something coming up soon somewhere else.
