PHOENIX (AZFamily) — After more than two years of serving as a beacon of hope for teenagers leaving foster care, a cafe in Laveen has finally closed its doors.
Hanai Coffee & Cocktails brewed its last cup of coffee on Saturday. The company provided vocational training and employment opportunities to at-risk youth and young adults.
“Closing Hanai was definitely the hardest decision for my wife and I and our partners,” said owner Ryan Senters. “We invested all of our savings and it was our life’s work to house these foster children.”
Senters said the company, structured as a for-profit entity, could not handle financial challenges, including the cost of goods and labor.
On Friday, they decided to close Hanai, surprising many of their customers.
“We love the community. We love the mission we’ve built and our employees. It was heartbreaking,” he said.
But Hanai’s mission to improve the lives of foster children isn’t over yet. In May, Hanai opened a nonprofit location in Peoria City Hall.
The partnership with the city includes rent-free scheduling that allows the organization to continue its work.
Hanai Coffee & Cocktails opened in June 2022. Throughout its life, the business has trained about 40 foster children through its six-week program, according to Senters, teaching them career-readiness skills and helping them find part-time or full-time jobs at Hanai or elsewhere.
He said the cafe’s mission is to prevent homelessness and incarceration while building confidence and workplace skills.
“Last week a young girl got her first car with the money she earned herself, and that is a big deal,” Senters added.
Hanai was a workplace and a gathering place for the community, hosting adoption parties, birthdays and even weddings. Senters said he is in talks with other nonprofits about potentially taking over the lease on Laveen, hoping to ensure the space continues to serve as a gathering place for the community.
“We are so disappointed for our Laveen community, but we hope they will still come by and visit us at our Peoria location,” he said.
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