Since 1974, the Seward Cafe has been a cooperatively owned, collectively operated vegan and vegetarian friendly restaurant serving the Seward neighborhood in Minneapolis, MN. Between the global pandemic and the uprisings in Minneapolis, 2020 has catapulted the Cafe toward a new future. Throughout the pandemic, we have been operating our Free Store, renting the kitchen to Midori's Floating World Cafe and Southside Food Share.
We reopened May 15th 2023 as a cafe and restaurant, a free space, a new collective, and in a new relationship with our communities. We are seeking a few additional collective members to staff regular shifts at the cafe and kitchen, as well as participate in the administrative and upkeep work we perform as a cooperative. This could include regular maintenance of the space and equipment, bakery prep shifts, being a part of a working group, regular inventory and ordering of products, coordinating events, and more. These are paid positions, averaging 15-30 hours a week with room to grow. We work in a non-hierarchical, cooperative environment- this means being proactive, communicative, and supportive is valued.
Here are some more details about the positions available:
Barista
12-30 hours per week available depending on interest
Shift times:
6A-11A (open)
8:30A-2:30P (mid)
11A-5P (close)
$15/hour + tips, shift drink, shift meal on days with food service only
Job Duties
Preparing a variety of beverages, including coffee, tea, and other specialty drinks, with a focus on quality and attention to customer preferences.
Regular cleaning routines for the bar, kitchen, and cafe space, maintaining a high level of cleanliness and organization.
Proactively ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, taking responsibility for cleanliness, hygiene, and the overall well-being of the space.
Engaging with customers in a friendly and positive manner, addressing inquiries, taking orders, and ensuring a welcoming atmosphere.
Physical Requirements
Ability to stand for extended periods
Lift and carry up to 50 pounds
Work in a fast-paced environment with occasional exposure to heat and steam
Line Cook
Dishwasher
Organizational Responsibilities
Work with other members of the collective to maintain and grow cafe operations
Communicate and collaborate with all members of the collective and other groups that operate out of the space
Participate in working groups of the cafe (inventory, finance, maintenance, etc)
Attend regular collective meetings (weekly)
Experience, Qualifications, and Requirements
Experience organizing and working within collective structures
Experience organizing and working in diverse community
A strong critique of capitalism
Commitment to racial justice, anti-oppression, and economic justice as an integral part of a multi-racial team and the communities we serve
Ability to navigate uncertainty and change, especially in relation to improving and restructuring internal policies
Ability to traverse across the cafe and operate cafe equipment (pushing, pulling, grabbing)
Able to provide consistent hospitality to a wide variety of customers.
Commitment to the collective’s goals and values, and ability to communicate them to a variety of audiences
Strong communication skills, including in de-escalation and conflict resolution
Ability to balance working independently and collaboratively
Experience in commercial kitchens and/or coffee shops
Ability to traverse across the cafe and operate cafe equipment (pushing, pulling, grabbing)
Commitment to working at the cafe for 1+ years
If you’d like to get involved but aren’t able to commit to regular shifts, feel free to still apply as we have volunteer opportunities outside of kitchen or barista shifts or may reach out to you in the future for other employment options. Please fill out the form or make a copy of this document and send it to sewardcafe@gmail.com, with the header “Employment Application”. Once we have received your completed application, we will review it carefully and get back to you in a timely manner. Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, it may take us some time to get back to you, however, we assure you that we will review each application thoroughly and will get back to you with a response as soon as possible.
Starting pay $15/hr + cash and credit card tips. Multilingual Spanish and/or Somali speakers and QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Color) applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.
