This weekend, Blueprint Coffee will be doing more than serving coffee.
The Delmar Loop coffee shop plans to donate 25 percent of its coffee bar sales from Fri., Feb. 3 to Sun., Feb. 5 to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in an effort to stand in opposition to the current executive order set by President Trump that bans refugees and immigrants from seven Muslim countries.
As a nonpartisan, non-profit organization, the ACLU has a mission statement “to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States.” The organization is responsible for organizing and funding lawyers who are currently fighting against the recent executive order.
The entrance to Blueprint Coffee in The Loop
J. Pollack Photography
Over the weekend, Blueprint Coffee will join 200+ coffee bars nationwide in this fundraiser, organized by international coffee publication Sprudge.com.
“We are a very inclusive company,” co-owner Mike Marquard says. “We incorporate international business with our coffee, and we have partners around the world who have literally welcomed us into their homes. They have offered us so much warmth and trust that we want to always provide that same hospitality here to them.”
Marquard is one of six Blueprint owners. He says the entire staff was quick to jump on board when they learned of the fundraiser this past Saturday.
Not only does the shop have ties with international growers, but it’s also a destination for a diverse group of coffee drinkers. Marquard says one of his favorite things about Blueprint is seeing all the different people who come in and drink their coffee.
“The main takeaway from this fundraiser is that this executive order doesn’t represent us as Americans,” Marquard says. “Here at Blueprint, we are a group of driven professionals trying to make our business, city and country better, and this new action is not something we stand for.”
And as for customers who may be turned off by Blueprint taking a political stance, Marquard says he understands where they’re coming from.
“We respect their point of view,” he says. “And we understand that consumers have a choice to make here, just like how we have made ours clear.”
Anything purchased at Blueprint Coffee’s Delmar Loop location will go toward the weekend fundraiser, but online orders will not be eligible.
Because Blueprint Coffee was one of the first 26 business to join the fundraiser, Sprudge.com will match Blueprint’s donations gathered this weekend up to $500.
Blueprint Coffee, 6225 Delmar Blvd., University City, Missouri, 314.266.6808, blueprintcoffee.com
