Downtown Latté is the culmination of Pam and Connie’s aspirations. Throughout her 13-year career as the Toledo Museum of Art’s box office manager, Connie spoke often of one day opening a coffee shop. She envisioned a place with a warm and inviting atmosphere, where people would come not only for a cup of coffee, but to enjoy conversation with others. Pam shared this dream and pictured a coffee house similar to the European cafés in which she had spent time when she was younger.

Their vision, combined with the skills of Connie’s husband Ken, a finished carpenter, became Downtown Latté. The concept for a coffee house was then paired with a passion for social justice as they insisted upon serving exclusively fair trade coffee, ensuring that farmers are given a just and sustainable wage for their trade. Downtown Latté is the only Toledo café to have set that standard.

The overwhelming sense of community and identity inherent in the establishment sets Downtown Latté apart from other coffee houses. Pam and Connie became an integral part of the Toledo revitalization effort by choosing a location within the Toledo Warehouse District, located in the heart of downtown. Taking it one step further, they both moved into apartments above the coffee house, becoming fully immersed in downtown life.

They use their space to promote the work of local artisans and musicians, and have chosen local businesses for many of their supply needs. More than just a change in careers or a financial investment, they have built a café whose success is intertwined with that of the community at large.