Non-profit giving away a White Rock coffee shop through essay contest

Putting pen to paper may just win you a coffee shop.

A White Rock non-profit, the Small Ritual Coffee Society, is giving away their Johnson Road coffee shop because they have decided to move their services aimed at Metro Vancouver’s most vulnerable population closer to the Downtown core.

Through an essay contest, the non-profit hopes to find the shop’s next owner, someone with an entrepreneurial spirit and a dream to run a coffee shop. While the winner of the contest won’t technically win the physical storefront, they will be gifted equipment, furnishings, leasehold improvements, and “essentially every physical thing present at 1237 Johnson Road,” which the organization states is worth over $100,000.

They will have to take on the location’s lease, however, which is set at a not-for-profit rate. Alternatively, they could relocate to another location if they wish.

Anyone interested in getting in on this piping-hot deal can now enter the 200-word essay contest by writing on one of four topics, or entering up to four times by writing on each topic. All entries must be in by February 10, after which organizers will announce the names of 10 finalists who then must write 1,000 words on “how they plan to keep the community spirit alive at the café and how they plan to breathe even more life into it.”

The big winner will be announced on March 17, 2016 and can take over as early as May 1, but they must also volunteer full-time for one month prior in order to receive training from staff.

It costs $100 to enter the contest, but organizers say if they receive less than 500 submissions they will refund all payments and hold the contest again at a later date. If more than 1,000 entries come in, they will provide the winner with a “nest-egg” to pay business expenses.

Will you be entering this contest?