Rosebud Coffee in Highland Park (Photo – Staff)
A warm hum of possibility fills the air at Rosebud Coffee’s newest home in Highland Park.
By Rena Kurlander
On any given day, you can already spot baristas behind the counter, youth interns pouring lattes with practiced confidence, greeting neighbors, and shaping a space that exists because of them. And on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 11:00 am, that quiet, everyday magic becomes a full‑blown celebration.
A Grand Opening Rooted in Purpose
Rosebud Coffee is cutting the ribbon on its second social enterprise café, located at 5858 North Figueroa St., Highland Park, CA 90042, and the community is invited to celebrate a milestone more than a decade in the making.
This isn’t just a new café. It’s the next chapter in a movement that began in 2013 with a single mobile coffee cart and a bold idea: that young people experiencing homelessness, foster care, or justice involvement deserve real career pathways, and that a cup of coffee can help create them.
Today, Rosebud Coffee stands as a thriving social enterprise where 100% of profits fund Coffee With A Cause, a nonprofit offering paid internships, mentorship, and hands-on job-site experience across industries including coffee, doggy care, fitness, landscaping, culinary arts, and construction. More than 100 youth have already come through the program, with 85% securing employment or enrolling in school or vocational training.
When you sip at Rosebud Coffee, you’re not just enjoying great coffee—you’re fueling futures.
What to Expect at the Celebration
The Grand Opening brings together the people who built this café, the youth who power it, and the community that believes in them.
- Coffee tastings featuring beans roasted at Rosebud’s Pasadena location
- Ribbon-cutting ceremony with community leaders and elected officials
- Youth intern baristas pulling espresso shots and crafting latte art
And of course, a full menu of favorites available for purchase:
- Espresso drinks and seasonal specials like Rose Cream Top, Café de Olla, and Earl Grey Hot Chocolate
- Pastries, toasts, carnitas and veggie sandos, and breakfast burritos
Why It Matters
Every latte poured at Rosebud Coffee is part of a larger story—one where young people gain confidence, soft skills, and a pathway to long-term success. The new Highland Park café expands that impact, offering more internships, more mentorship, and more opportunities for youth to step into their futures with pride.
This is coffee with a cause, and the celebration is as much about community as it is about caffeine.
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