Katora
Please welcome our next Sustainability award winner for 2021, Katora! Christian and April opened Katora in December of 2017 and very quickly took a pledge not only to welcome everyone into a safe space but also to promote sustainable business practices. Being the only vegetarian/vegan cafe downtown has been received well by the community. Having gone through very tough times themselves, they have an open door policy to help and support the community through donations of time and product.
So many wonderful relationships have been built over the past few years and they look forward to many more to come. Christian has worked in the hospitality industry as a chef/operator for over 20 years in communities such as NYC, St. Louis and Ft Lauderdale. He brings this unique perspective to the food offerings and events that Katora hosts. April is a graphic designer / software engineer by trade and shows her expertise though Katora branding, marketing and interior design. It wouldn’t be Katora without the events and there are many; from Art shows to Live music, Video game tournaments, open mics and poetry, just to name a few. All are meant to offer a place for the FXBG and surrounding areas to come together and enjoy the diverse culture that VA has to offer.
Reducing the amount of plastic any business uses is a priority for Christian and April – Katora uses compostable and recyclable cups / straws / containers / bags / utensils. Kuleana Coffee Roasters (Ryan Mooney, local FXBG roaster & mushroom expert) is the company that provides the coffee to Katora and they are committed to Direct Trade with Farmers, Organic Coffee and fully compostable bags down to the ink! Anywhere you look inside the shop you will see Local Art. Monthly showcases to highlight local artists and constantly changing walls of content allow for the amazing talent to have a chance to shine. Christian and April are also member/owners of the local co-op grocery store.
Christian currently sits on the board for the local department of Social Services and the Fredericksburg Regional Continuum of Care (coordinates housing and services for homeless families and individuals). “Community service, give back what you have reaped”. This is a mantra for Christian and April. Fostering meaningful relationships with the guests allows for us to provide the best service we can. Understanding people is so important in a time where all we do is look at data. Losing the human interaction during the pandemic has only steeled their resolve to continue to provide a satisfying experience for all.
