SAME Café – Denver, Colorado

About SAME Café

SAME Café was born from a simple yet powerful idea: everyone deserves access to healthy food served with dignity. On a bright Friday morning—October 20, 2006—Brad and Libby Birky unlocked the doors for the first time, launching a café where people from all walks of life could enjoy a meal in an inclusive, welcoming space.

After years of volunteering in soup kitchens and food pantries, the Birkys envisioned a model where people could contribute in ways that worked for them—whether through time, money, or produce—creating a community-driven approach to food justice. SAME Café quickly became more than a place to eat; it became a movement.

Over the years, SAME has evolved and expanded. A major kitchen upgrade in 2012, new leadership in 2017, and the development of outreach programs like Cook to Work solidified its impact beyond its original East Colfax location. In 2019, the board approved the first replication of SAME Café’s model, leading to the opening of SAME Toledo inside the Toledo Lucas County Public Library in 2022—proving that this innovative approach can thrive in communities across the country.

At SAME Café, food is a connector, a conversation starter, and a catalyst for change. Every meal served is a step toward a more equitable food system—one plate at a time.