They say it takes a village to raise a family. The same could be said about establishing a small business in the downtown Phoenix area.
While 34-year-old Quinlan Hamann had not always anticipated that he’d run his own coffee shop, he has certainly made the most of his opportunity, and he’s done so in a unique and remarkable way.
On Friday nights at 7 p.m., the lights go down, the stars come out and the Cactus Cloud Cafe sets the stage for its weekly “Open Mic Night.”
Though hard work, creativity and dedication are essential for any business to flourish in the hospitality and food service industry, Hamann said that an incredible amount of luck and good fortune were also necessary for his early success.
“Feeling so fortunate to have (the Cactus Cloud Cafe)… I have a lot of responsibility to the people that work here and the people that live around here,” Hamann said. “I really want to make this place great for them.”
With an opportunity to serve and a desire to help others, Hamann knew that, once his regular morning coffee-drinkers had left, there was still much use for the space he had created.
On those special Friday evenings, in a small cafe on West Monroe Street, coffee and espresso turn to beer, wine and an environment that fosters local artist development.
“When it comes to performative art, a lot of people don’t have good opportunities to practice when they don’t feel super confident with their skills yet,” Hamann said.
The cozy back room of the cafe, which doubles as the “Open Mic Night” venue, provides a comfortable space for musicians, artists and all manner of talented individuals to hone their skills in a communal setting.
For Hamann, some of the most satisfying moments have been being able to watch young, talented individuals surprise even themselves with their own musical and artistic gifts. With the Cactus Cloud Cafe’s bookcases filled with music, board games and art, Hamann has fostered an intimate and comfortable atmosphere.
“We’ll just play (games) together or we’ll play a few songs and talk a little bit,” Hamann said. “We’ll have some good food and drinks… until people get tired and start leaving.”
Throughout the months in which Hamann has opened the cafe’s door for this event, the Cactus Cloud Cafe is starting to draw regular attendees for these events. Recently, the event has attracted many students from the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, according to Hamaan.
Despite the recent success of these events, Hamann’s vision for the cafe’s future is much grander. According to Hamann, he hopes to eventually create multiple themed nights at the shop: open mics, game nights, and even book clubs.
Edited by Shi Bradley
