Help  take care 

Hi, I’m Lee. I’ve spent more than a decade helping shape specialty coffee in the Twin Cities — most notably as a founder and creative force behind Five Watt Coffee.

I’m raising $75,000 to open Take Care, a new care-focused coffee shop in Saint Paul, located in the former Kopplin’s Coffee space. Every dollar raised (up to $75,000) is being matched dollar-for-dollar by an investor, bringing the total opening fund to $150,000.

After being forced out of my role as CEO at Amplified Experiences (Five Watt Coffee, Sencha Tea Bar) in an action tied to a pending lawsuit, I invested my life savings into standing up for myself and building this café. Take Care is my path forward — a chance to rebuild and create something grounded in care, quality, and community.

Your support helps cover essential equipment, rent, light remodeling, and initial payroll so I can hire staff and open the doors responsibly. This is an urgent moment, and your contribution now goes twice as far. Thank you for helping me Take Care.