Café Gratitude

Cafe Gratitude is a small chain of restaurants serving organic, plant-based (vegan) food. In addition to vegan food, honey is served with some options. There are five locations in the Los Angeles area, in Newport Beach, Venice, Larchmont Village, Beverly Hills, and in the Downtown Arts District. There are additional locations in Santa Cruz, Kansas City, Missouri, and San Diego.<ref>Locations | Café Gratitude that is privately held.</ref><ref name=Schoeneman> Schoeneman, Deborah,

 Power Lunch With a Side of Homilies Full text, 
 , 
  
 20 July 2011,

</ref> A fifth restaurant in Berkeley, California, closed in 2015 after operating for 10 years<ref>http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2016/06/22/sicilian-restaurant-planned-for-cafe-gratitude-space-in-north-berkeley/]</ref><ref>[http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2016/06/22/sicilian-restaurant-planned-for-cafe-gratitude-space-in-north-berkeley/</ref>, and a restaurant in San Francisco, California closed in 2011 after operating for 7 years<ref>

Archived copy(link). {{{website}}}.

Accessed 2018-03-29.

</ref>

Owners

Except for the Kansas City location, Cafe Gratitude is majority owned and managed by Love Serve Remember, LLC.<ref>

Apply for a Trademark. Search a Trademark(link). trademarkia.com.

Accessed 2017-12-07.

</ref>

Philosophy

Cafe Gratitude is said to be managed according to the principles of Sacred Commerce,<ref> Bronner, Sasha,

 These Restaurateurs Found Their Path (And Huge Success) By Creating A Cult Of Gratitude Full text, 
 Huffington Post, 
  
 2013-11-25, 
  
  
 Accessed on: 2017-12-07.

</ref> as outlined in a book of the same name by Matthew and Terces Engelhart. This claims to integrate the intention and philosophy of dharma – right actions, right intentions, right speech – as a way of being connected to spirit.<ref> ,

 Sacred Commerce Introduction - Dharma Merchant Services Full text, 
 Dharma Merchant Services, 
  
 2010-12-28, 
  
  
 Accessed on: 2017-12-07.

</ref>

Cafe Gratitude Controversy

Terces and Matthew Engelhart received a heated back-lash after the vegan community learned that they chose to raise and slaughter cattle on their private farm. The Engelharts themselves declined an interview request, but Terces Engelhart's son and Cafe Gratitude's chief operating officer said the feud against Cafe Gratitude has unfairly cast his mother and stepfather as deceptive animal killers.<ref> ,

 Return to meat by Cafe Gratitude owners sparks vegan uproar Full text, 
 Daily News, 
  
 2016-05-07, 
  
  
 Accessed on: 2017-12-07.

</ref>

History

Cafe Gratitude started as a small chain of organic plant based restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area, one in Berkeley and another in Santa Cruz.<ref>Cafe Gratitude: a New Restaurant Concept and Brainchild of Two Landmark Education Graduates</ref><ref name=Schoeneman></ref>

The East Bay Express newspaper in the August 5, 2009 article, "I am Annoyed and Disappointed" reported on Cafe Gratitude's policy of suggesting employees attend the Landmark Education's Landmark Forum which the company pays for half of. Former employee Ash Ritter who was promoted to management later was demoted for not taking the Landmark Forum and subsequently fired.<ref name="eastbyexpressarticle">

I am Annoyed and Disappointed(link). {{{website}}}. East Bay Express.

</ref>

Previous locations also included San Francisco, San Rafael, Healdsburg, and inside the Oakland and Cupertino Whole Foods. They closed following a lawsuit filed by employees.<ref> Wilkey, Robin,

 NO THANK YOU: Employee Lawsuits Lead Beloved Restaurants To Close Full text, 
 Huffington Post, 
  
 29 November 2011,

</ref>

See also

• List of vegetarian restaurants

References

<references/>

External links

• Official website

   This article is a medical stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!