This new Phoenix coffee shop is celebrating 'folks that never had a voice.' Here's how
Skoden Coffee & Tea offers more than just a unique drink, such as the Honey Lavender Lez Love; it provides a welcoming atmosphere of inclusivity and acceptance.
Their new location now occupies the former residence of Kream Coffee within the furniture store For The People, situated at North Central Avenue and Camelback Road. Owner Natasha John described their shop as not only a safe space for people from diverse backgrounds but also a celebration of "folks that never had a voice."
A key to much of Skoden's success: collaboration and cultural appreciation.
Jordan Manuelito is a barista at Skoden and said they love to showcase culinary and artistic talent from their community. Manuelito said they allow collaborators, like Indigenous-owned Redhouse Delicates, which bakes blue corn croissants for the shop, to have fun and play around with traditional flavors.
Skoden's menu and merchandise wall is an example of its continued support for artists in their community. From candles to mugs, the shop hopes to expose smaller Indigenous art to a larger audience.
"We tried to keep our supply chain mostly Indigenous, and we'd love to collaborate with more black and brown businesses in the future," John said. "Because we come from a disenfranchised community, being that we're Navajo, we really try to support our other relatives in any way possible."
With bookshelves full of comics, zines and children's books donated by Indigenous artists like Carmen Selam and Kayla Shaggy, John said their clientele is also multigenerational. Kids with their grandmothers and teenagers with their aunts come together to enjoy coffee, pastries and art.
John said their popularity seems to be expanding exponentially since their move to Phoenix. With more than 12,000 followers on Instagram, their platform grows. Their team has been learning how to adjust to newfound attention as they continue to advocate for causes close to their hearts, such as their support for the Palestinians.
"First and foremost, they (Palestinians) are also Indigenous folks," John said. "We have very, very close histories, and I think for us it's a very black-and-white issue."
They have exemplified their solidarity with Palestinians through stickers on cups, social media posts and coffee events in collaboration with groups like O'odham Solidarity With Palestine. Their advocacy has sparked controversy, and Manuelito said backlash, harassment and threats they have faced for taking a stance were initially discouraging, especially when it was targeted at family and friends.
"At that time, I was just focusing on the bad," Manuelito said. "But there's actually so many people around us that came through to show that they supported us. It was really heartwarming."
When Skoden hosted a Food for Palestine event at their location, where 30% of its sales went to children in Gaza, John said the line was out the door the entire afternoon and they were open for hours past their closing time.
"It's such a blessing for us to hear from our Palestinian relatives that they feel safe in this space," John said. "I always told myself that if I was ever going to have a voice or a platform, then I would use it to just be honest and do good things."
Although Skoden labels itself as an "Indigenous, femme, queer" coffee shop, John said they are consistently evolving their identity as their team grows. John said their business is firmly anti-racist and welcomes anyone hoping to purchase a quality cup of coffee.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How Skoden Coffee and Tea is shaking up metro Phoenix
