A Season of Change at Purple Door

One of the most beautiful things about living in Colorado is the way the landscape shifts—one moment, a snowstorm; the next, brilliant blue skies. Change is constant, sometimes wild and unpredictable, but always an invitation: to grow, to adapt, to imagine what’s next.

Today, we share a change of our own. After 13 years of transformation, growth, and deep impact, Purple Door, as a coffee business, will close at the end of this month. (The mission continues—read on.)

This is a bittersweet moment—not one of endings, but of change. We are celebrating all that has been—and all that will continue as the organization enters through a new passageway of opportunity.

A Door That Opened Possibility

When Dry Bones and our partners at Belay Enterprises launched Purple Door Coffee in 2012, we saw a glaring need. Unhoused and street-connected young people lacked meaningful work opportunities, structured mentorship, and the chance to gain the skills necessary to build a stable future.

So we dreamed, and we built. We transformed a coffee shop and eventually a roastery into a place of belonging—a space where young people could rediscover their own strength, purpose, and worth.

And the dream? It worked!

Through the craft of coffee, Purple Door has become a place of safety, self-discovery, and healing. We’ve witnessed incredible transformation—not just in the lives of young people stepping through our doors, but in all of us. It has been a profound privilege to watch someone’s confidence grow as they pull their first perfect espresso shot, navigate conflict with resilience, or begin to believe that they are capable of something new.

This community—staff, supporters, and customers alike—has been part of something rare and beautiful. You have helped young people feel seen. You have helped them believe in themselves. You continue to make transformation possible.

Why We’re Moving Forward

Change is inevitable, and just as the needs of our community have shifted, so must we.

After a professionally led operational review, deep reflection, and guidance from trusted advisors in nonprofit, social enterprise, and the coffee industry, we reached a profound realization: it’s time for a change.

While Purple Door has been an incredible vessel for transformation, the challenges of running a social enterprise coffee business in today’s market has become increasingly complex. Among other factors, rising coffee prices, escalating cost of goods, and difficulty in reaching sales goals—combined with the evolving needs of the young people we serve—have led us to a decision rooted in love and sustainability. We will be transitioning away from the coffee industry to focus on what we do best: creating spaces where transformation and belonging thrive.

Our job-readiness programming will continue, evolving into a more flexible, cost-effective model that better meets the complex realities of the young people we serve. We are once again stepping through the threshold into something new—adapting, evolving, and experimenting to find the best ways to support young people on their journey. The heart of Purple Door remains.

And, in true full-circle fashion, we’re overjoyed that another social enterprise—one with strong infrastructure and a mission deeply aligned with ours—will be filling our beloved Sherman Street coffee shop! We’re honored to pass the keys over to our kindred partners at Prodigy Ventures, where the work of empowerment and opportunity among underserved teens and young adults will continue. 

Gratitude & What’s Next

We’re grateful that each component of our coffee business is being sold to three amazing partners and longtime friends in the coffee world (Prodigy, Servant, and Vellichor). This allows us to recoup a portion of our financial investments for the next Purple Door model and for the ongoing mission of Dry Bones.

As we close this chapter, we do so with full hearts. We are profoundly grateful—for you, our community, our supporters, and the young people who have entrusted us with their stories and dreams.

If you are a retail or wholesale customer, you’ve already heard from Tami about next steps. We wholeheartedly recommend our friends at Servant Coffee for your ongoing coffee needs.

If you’d like to learn more about the details behind this transition, please visit: drybonesdenver.org/pdcannouncement

As Colorado’s skies always clear after a storm, we know that blue skies await. This is not the end of Purple Door’s impact—only the beginning of a new season of transformation.

Come visit us at the shop between now and Friday, February 28! 

Then, keep an eye out! Prodigy will be reopening after a few weeks of reset, acquiring proper licensing, and preparation.

Thank you for being on this journey with us. We are, as ever, in this together.

With deep gratitude,
The Purple Door / Dry Bones Team