Clockworks Cafe and Cultural Center

When the nonprofit Culture Shock Community project kept struggling to find suitable spaces to host their free events, they decided to create their own. At Clockworks Cafe & Cultural Center, baristas decants cups of Stumptown Coffee, Smith Tea, and housemade teas seven days a week. Meanwhile, their culinary team crafts sandwiches, salads, and seasonal soups alongside handmade baked goods from Marsee Bakery. An exposed-brick interior and two feature walls exhibiting artwork infuse the space with a gallery-like ambiance. Along with drinks and treats, the café entices guests with events every month such as live music, open mics, a belly-dance showcase, and craft nights, where visitors can use coffee and beads to make a wet hot bead. Clockworks' uses all its proceeds to fund Culture Shock Community Projects such as the Live Interactive Performance Series of Salem.