I am now covering stories in all 17 wards of Cleveland! If you or anyone you know has a story idea, email me at [email protected]

An East Side coffee shop is hoping to build community one cup at a time. 

The Tavern Coffee House is a non-profit, neighborhood coffee shop located at 12302 Buckeye Road. The former bar has been transformed by the Meeting Place Church into a space for Buckeye residents to enjoy coffee and community. According to its mission statement, the coffeehouse exists to “bring back hope to Buckeye through strong coffee, stronger jobs, and to build the strongest community.”

Kenneth McQuiller, CEO of the Tavern Coffee House and an associate pastor at the Meeting Place Church, found inspiration in the city of Cleveland, and he has set his sights on bringing people together. 

McQuiller was attending college in his home state of New York when a summer internship opportunity at the Meeting Place brought him to Cleveland. He lived three months in the Buckeye neighborhood.

“I came here in 2016, and I fell in love with the city right away. When my internship ended and I graduated, I moved back here,” McQuiller said. “l’m from New York, and I think Clevelanders are probably some of the most determined people I have ever met.” 

The transformation

The Meeting Place Church, which focuses on serving the inner city of Cleveland, specifically the East Side, was looking for  ways to connect with the community in a more direct, hands-on way. Pastor Bob Willard and his wife, Judy, kept coming back to a piece of property that they acquired through the county land bank.

“We were looking at the space and were trying to decide what we wanted to do with it.” said Willard. “We wanted to utilize the bar space without having to do too much renovation work.”  

The street view of the Tavern Coffeehouse.
The street view of the Tavern Coffee House Credit: Najee Hall / Signal Cleveland

They thought a full-service restaurant would be more than they could handle. Willard decided a coffee shop would be the best way to go. So many people go to a Starbucks or McDonalds and just hang out, he noted, that they hoped they could create an inviting space where people could start their day. The Tavern idea was born.

They were just beginning to work on the space at East 123 Street and Buckeye when COVID-19 shut everything down.

“COVID set us back. We had missionaries and volunteers coming in from all over to help. That stopped when COVID hit, so things stalled for a while,” Willard said. “Once things opened back up, inflation made our initial costs skyrocket, so we basically had to go back and rally for more money.”

They were able to push through and get the funds needed to move forward with the renovation. They started again in the Fall of 2022 and celebrated their grand opening on Sept. 8, 2023. 

The Tavern Coffee House – ready to serve

The Tavern is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to noon.  The shop serves coffee, lattes, cappuccinos, teas, and pastries. All items are $5 or less. McQuiller said that although they have a steady stream of customers, they would love to see more new faces come through the door.

Menu at the Tavern Coffeehouse.
Menu at the Tavern Coffeehouse Credit: Najee Hall / Signal Cleveland

“Right now we are probably serving 10 people a day. Our next goal would be to service 20 people a day, and so on.” McQuiller said. “Our current customers say how they prefer us to a Starbucks or a McDonalds because you get that personal interaction with us and other customers that you don’t get everywhere.”

The Tavern is also open for people who want to host community gatherings and events. 

“There is no cost to use the space. We accept donations and whatever people are able to give,” McQuiller said. “Our hope is that this will be a safe place for the community to meet and get together. A place where people can have fun and we can build community.”

The Tavern also prides itself on supporting a Buckeye resident, Angelina Bell, the CEO of Humble Mornings, by offering her coffee beans daily.

The four core values of the Tavern are community, renewal, determination and generosity. McQuiller centers those values as he shows up in the community, ready to serve. You can find him behind the “bar,” whipping up your favorite drinks. 

I am now covering stories in all 17 wards of Cleveland! If you or anyone you know has a story idea, email me at [email protected]

Community Reporter (he/him)
I work to gain the trust of Cleveland residents through direct community engagement and storytelling. My goal is to amplify and celebrate the residents and stakeholders who contribute to the success of city neighborhoods. I’m hoping to erase the negative stigma that has been cast on some neighborhoods throughout the years.