4-06-2025 12:58am

Recovery Cafe Opens First North Metro Location

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Inside Zion Lutheran Church in Anoka, a committed group of people stand at the ready to help those healing from addiction.

Recovery Cafe Anoka County opened its doors Wednesday to about 100 visitors who came out for their soft opening. Many found it to be a welcoming place for people who are dealing with mental health and substance use issues.

"So I'm a woman in long term recovery,” said Sheri Cindrich, executive director of Recovery Cafe Anoka County. “I'm recovering from opioids, chronic pain and alcohol."

Cindrich has been sober for the past six years, and discovered the Recovery Cafe model, which started this first Recovery Cafe in Seattle, Washington. Cindrich helped open the first one in St. Paul, down in Frogtown. And now she has co-founded Recovery Cafe Anoka County.

"So a recovery cafe is a healing community center where we provide for individuals and families, peer support, events, activities, and hospitality," Cindrich said.

As a part of the core commitment of the Recovery Cafe Network, they offer meals and snacks, along with coffee and conversation.

"We're just super glad to open the doors and allow people to come in here," said Nick LeClair, board member of Recovery Cafe Anoka County.

The Cafe is free, and open to the public on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Dave Johnson is on the board of Recovery Cafe Anoka County and brings years of experience helping people find sobriety. Johnson had spent 12 years as a counselor and chaplain with the Salvation Army, and five years at Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge.

"We're the group of people who come alongside people who are in the struggle with drugs and alcohol and mental illness and enter into a conversation with them,” Johnson said. “We ask them, Are you interested in having a better life?"

The Recovery Cafe model promotes loving accountability and radical hospitality, to help their members find ways to recovery.

"We really want to encourage everyone in the community to come in and be part of this program because we're all impacted by something," Cindrich said.