Clockworks Cafe & Cultural Center, Salem

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.