Meet David Pierre-Louis, the owner of Konbit Cafe in Seattle’s University District.
Konbit Cafe is a Haitian specialty walk-up cafe nestled in the bustling University District. Kay Tita, a community resource organization helmed by David Pierre-Louis, opened the cafe in 2023 as part of its mission to empower Haitian entrepreneurs and foster community growth in both Seattle and Haiti.
Try their delicious coffee and espresso beverages brewed from beans grown in the northern hills of Dondon, Haiti. And be sure to check out their baked goods as well– you don’t want to miss out on their Haitian patties, a savory puff pastry filled with chicken, beef, or veggies.
Fun Fact: The cafe’s name, konbit, is a Haitian term used to describe a group of people coming together to accomplish a project in their community.
Get to know more about David and Konbit Cafe in this week’s Business Spotlight Q&A.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What’s your favorite part about the community your business is in & why?
The vibrancy, culture, colors, community, diversity.
Why is it important to you and your business that people #SpendLikeItMatters?
Spend Like It Matters embodies everything we do at Konbit Cafe and our greater organization, Kay Tita. We foster community development and empower small business owners and entrepreneurs in Port au Prince, Haiti, and Washington State through our programming like the Digital Sales Access Program and Start-Up Week.
As a business owner, what’s the strangest or craziest idea you’ve ever tried?
I hosted the University District’s first jazz festival in 2009. We also hosted a dinner in the dark event where all the waiters were blind.
What’s something your customers may not know about you or your business?
Our owner used to own LUCID Jazz Lounge and closed it in 2015 to pursue community development work in Haiti full-time.
What are some of your favorite local businesses and why?
Supreme Cutz, for their great friendly environment, and the barbers are top-notch. Oasis Tea Zone because the Boba Tea is phenomenal! Thai Tom because the dishes are all packed with delicious flavors, feels like you are eating in Thailand.
Anything else you’d like us to know about you and your business?
We feature single-origin Haitian coffee in all our espresso drinks and we feature handmade Haitian patties! 100% of the proceeds from our cafe go back to supporting the community we foster in Port-au-Prince.
Supporting Konbit Cafe supports and empowers Haiti’s future!