Hometown Soul Cafe in Göttingen

[The Winch 25]

Hello Everyone,

After spending several years trying to organize expats in Göttingen on a voluntary basis, I've decided to open a cafe to do this.

Hometown Soul Cafe

 

It's located downtown near Rewe (see map here)

 

It's for all ages whether you are a baby playing with another english babbling baby, teens wanting to find other expats or dual nationals to relate to, parents/adults wanting to meet others who relate to their background, you name it. We have toys, books, TV, videos, coffee, tea, beer, soda, treats and lots more to come over the coming months. We have special events (karaoke night, St Patrick's Day celebrations, March Madness on Live TV, and much more). Our customers come from a wide variety of English speaking nations from around the world. Please drop in when you are in the neighborhood.

Jeff Winchell

Founder

[SLF 0]

Hey everyone,

 

I'm going to link this to Jeff's post since we are planning to hold our book club at the cafe!

 

I am a student here in Göttingen, and we are looking to start an English-speaking book club (the members do not have to be native speakers but it's always fun to meet other expats!) in Göttingen. We would meet at the Home Town Soul Cafe, which is on Papendiek 1 in Göttingen.

 

We were thinking of meeting Fridays at 11:30 am...for the first meeting, the owner has offered each member a complimentary cup of coffee. The ambiance is nice, the owner is American and the cafe has a working library ("The Other Peoples' Books Library") running in the back, where people can borrow books fairly easily.

 

We would read a chapter or two, a week and then meet to discuss the book (plus anyone who's been in a book club knows it eventually just turns to conversation!)... does this sound like something you guys would be interested in joining?? Our first meeting is set for Friday, November 19th (2 weeks from today!).

 

Cheers,

Stacey

[Elfenstar 1,676]

great idea, but you're leaving out a large group that might want to join - the working folk! 11.30 a.m. on a friday is good for students, stay-at-home parents or the unemployed (or freelancers who can schedule their own hours). good luck though.

[The Winch 25]

Hello Elfenstar,

Your point is well-taken, but the evenings are fairly busy with live sports (NFL, Cricket, Rugby, Basketball, Champions League, etc) or live music (folk, country, blues). Evenings are also a popular time for beer fans to try some of our over 100+ international beers.

 

So now we're working hard on making our afternoons just as interesting, but perhaps not as boisterous. ;-)

Jeff Winchell

[Louey 32]

Hi everyone,

 

Is this book club still operating? Is so, when is the next meeting?

 

Thanks,

Louey

[The Winch 25]

Yes the book club continues. After the first couple times, they moved the time slightly so that it starts at noon, rather than 11:30 AM.

[Louey 32]

Thanks, The Winch. I may come along tomorrow, is there anything I would need to bring?

Cheers, Lou

[The Winch 25]

I would contact Stacey (she's the one in the announcement earlier in this thread). I run the cafe (which includes Göttingen's biggest library of English language books), but Stacey runs the book club. They have been discussing something from James Joyce. I think it was a collection of stories, that is public domain and online, but Stacey is the better person to ask. See you Friday.

Jeff

[Guest]

What happened to Hometown Soul Cafe?! After months of looking forward to having such place once we moved here, now it's gone!

[The Winch 25]

Hello Everyone,

Sorry for an impersonal broadcast email, but I have to tell you that the cafe is now closed.

 

Financial Reasons.

 

Year by year, month by month, it became more popular, and sales kept growing.

 

However, it couldn't overcome its hugely underfunded start, and then the subsequent absence of my original partner, Viola.

 

That it continued for so long, 24 months, in a place much better known for existing businesses founded centuries ago, than for unique new start-ups, could have only happened because of all of the enthusiasm, heart-felt support, and volunteer efforts of so many people.

 

The only way I could thank everyone, was to keep working 100 hour weeks. I don't have that option anymore, so I'll just say

 

Thank You

 

I do have some hope and ideas for a rebirth of the Hometown Soul Cafe, though in a somewhat different form. But for the next few months, I need to focus on solving larger problems regarding my children. I'll leave the discussion of that for the personal, face-to-face conversations I hope to have with each of you.

 

Sincerely,

Jeff Winchell

Hometown Soul Cafe

2009-2011

and hopefully again