Chicago Coffee Shop is committed to supporting mental health

CHICAGO — Putting more resources into mental health is the driving force behind a new coffee shop in Lakeview.

“The goal is to serve a cup of coffee to everyone who walks in the door,” said Christopher LeMark, founder of Coffee, Hip-Hop and Mental Health Coffee Shop.

Located in Belmont between Seminary and Kenmore, the coffee shop’s storefront serves as the home base for their mission to provide free therapy throughout Chicago.

“If you’re supporting this… you’re supporting the many people who are signing up,” LeMark said. “To say that, let’s raise funds daily so we can pay 250 people a year to go to therapy with us. These are families, these are couples and individuals.”

A unique detail of the cafe — alongside its mission to normalize mental health therapy — there’s no set price for the coffee that’s prepared for customers. It’s a pay-what-you-want model designed with their mission in mind.

“So, the person who can afford to pay or give more — but for those who can only give a dollar or two — we still give them the same service and good energy,” LeMark said. “Because the goal is to make this a safe place for people, not just a coffee shop.”

To learn more about coffee, hip-hop, and mental health, visit their website at Coffee, Hip-Hop & Mental Health (chhamh.org).