Coffee. Community. Change.

Bobby Enslow

COFFEE. COMMUNITY. CHANGE

You take care of people that take care of you.

Growing up in a Korean American household, Bobby Enslow was raised by his American dad and Korean mother who taught Bobby about two vastly different world views. “It helped shape my view that we’re all in this together and that individualism and drive is great but if it’s at the expense of the overall community, is it really worth it?” Each day, his dad instilled in him the philosophy that if the team wins, everyone wins. Today, he works hard to translate that knowledge into his everyday life and local community.

“The idea of starting a coffee shop was originally planted when I was still in college and I went to South Africa for an internship. That experience really is what awoken my passion to this idea of bridging the connection between rich and poor.” Bobby recounted seeing very rich people and very poor people who did not interact with each other. Seeing that lack of interaction, he knew he had to start a coffee shop for the sole purpose of providing a neutral place to connect these two communities.

“That experience is what made me start Indaba. It was a place for people to come, eat, meet your neighbor, and connect.” Bobby continued and explained, “You’re either choosing to build a relationship with your neighbors or you’re choosing to isolate which can lead to destruction.” Destruction, of any kind, in a society can cause negative outcomes and Bobby wanted to do what he could to prevent that. “It’s still very much rooted in this desire to see a community transformed.”

“Our mantra has evolved into ‘Love People. Love Coffee.’ It means that you take care of people that take care of you.” To this day, Indaba lives on that principle hoping to bring people together with different strengths and support systems to bring about a more well rounded humanity. “I keep doing this business because it comes down to the people and caring for people, caring for my employees, and caring for my customers.”

Bobby continues to expand his business into different neighborhoods with the expanded mantra and philosophy that radical hospitality can change the world. “It's all out of this desire to hopefully communicate that we're all still connected.” Bobby smiled, “We're all still part of the same family."