There’s a familiar downtown Dayton coffee destination available to students that’s about a 10 minute walk from campus. Located on 46 W 5th St. is 3rd Perk Coffeehouse and Wine Bar, a creation from Juanita Darden-Jones, an Assistant Professor of math at Sinclair.
In the original vision for the shop, it was to be located on the west side of Dayton as a space for people to go relax and feel at ease. It would be a comfortable, sophisticated, calm place where friends could hang out with a good cup of coffee or great tasting glass of wine.
Professor Darden-Jones opened 3rd Perk because she wanted a professional, open atmosphere haven for her and her colleagues to go and enjoy each other’s company.
“It is the imagination of Ethiopian Coffee, fresh deli sandwiches, and cool and inventive cocktails in the evenings,” Darden-Jones said. “Third Perk offers three main experiences. It’s a local art gallery, coffee house, and wine bar.”
Most commonly it is used as a space for the community to come together, collaborate and to enjoy one another. Since 3rd Perk’s creation it has become a hub for the community and in return the community has embraced it.
This is evident in the many poetry readings/spoken word demonstrations held there. The community comes together for these events, saying poems or rhythmic sayings about what’s going on in their heads or the latest happenings in their communities.
Another way the establishment celebrates the community is by holding fundraising events. The purpose of these is to help people discover their talents and desires.
The coffee house also truly believes in trying to make young entrepreneurs’ dreams come true. This is manifested by the Perk-e-lator event hold by 3rd Perk. It is an elevator pitch competition which so far can boast providing $7,500 to help entrepreneurs start their business.
Entrepreneurs will have 90 seconds to deliver their business pitch to a group that will give them constructive feedback and help refine their business concept. After a vast decision process they will award funding to those young entrepreneurs if their business plan and ideas are valid.
Many participants will have the opportunity to earn a grant to utilize as capital to fund their entrepreneurial dreams. This has been made possible by donations from the Dreamers Gala, a fundraising event whose mission is raising money for these local entrepreneur startups.
3rd Perk has a system put in place that allows it to maintain a mom and pop store feel, while having a corporate style state of mind so it can provide the funds needed to put on community events and make dreams come true. One cup of coffee at a time.
Justin A. Baker
Staff Writer