Venue Spotlight: Porpoura
Most baristas open their doors because they want to make money or they are enamored by that dark brew with the enticing aroma and captivating flavor or they want to encourage acoustic music and coffeehouses are the usual venues. Though those are all good reasons for starting a business involving coffee, none of those were part of the unique vision of the owners of the Porpoura coffeeshops in Grand Forks. Sarah Kopp Heitkamp and her business partner Richelle Mews had a mission. Coffee was just the vehicle to make it all happen.
One clue is on their website and in their voice mail message that says, “Serving coffee and our community.” “We didn’t open the business to make money,” Sarah Kopp Heitkamp readily admits. “The mission of Porpoura, besides serving our community, was to fund Filling the Gap, which is a program that helps low income, cancer patients during treatment. Porpoura is Italian for purple, and purple is the color for cancer awareness. Filling the Gap helps with gas money, lodging, and nutrition for patients who can’t afford these things or can’t afford to travel to Grand Forks for treatment. Porpoura is a way we can keep that program going. We donate a percentage of the sales and all of the tips go to that program.”
Sarah Kopp Heitkamp
But why cancer awareness and not some other cause? “Both Richelle and I lost parents last year to cancer. My mom was only 42 when she was diagnosed; she was 52 when she passed away,” Heitkamp says. “We wanted to do something that would make a difference. Porpoura is one way that we’ve been able to do that.”
Opening first in Columbia Mall in 2006, Heitkamp and Mews sought a space downtown. “Our space in the mall is limited,” Heitkamp explains. “We were just looking for a place where there would be more room for people to gather.” They found that at 8 South Third St. and began brewing coffee in this second location in 2007. Both coffeehouses serve only Fair Trade Organic coffee, as well as sandwiches, pastries, and ice cream.
Though neither of the owner’s parents used the services of Filling the Gap, the owners felt that this organization was where the coffeehouse could really help. Heitkamp is intimately familiar with Filling the Gap since it is one of the services she administers at the Altru Health Foundation. Established over 25 years ago, the Foundation has raised over $13 million through individual and corporate gifts as supplemental funds for a variety of projects including the Breast Center, the Cancer Center, Cardiac Care Programs, Hospice, Pastoral Services, Reach Out and Read, and Filling the Gap. “It’s really awesome because every dollar that we raise for the program goes directly to the patient. We don’t take out any administrative fees out. We have raised thousands of dollars for Filling the Gap at Porpoura,” says Heitkamp.
Though Porpoura attempts to raise awareness of breast cancer, the coffeehouse is a place of brightness and hope. Covering one wall is a beautiful mural created by Susan Nord that sets a peaceful, Tuscan tone in keeping with the Italian name of the coffeehouse. There are comfortable sofas to lounge on with an overflowing free, lending library on site and tables and chairs with WIFI access. The walls also often become galleries for local artists, as well as national traveling exhibits. “We have an artist of the month program for local artists,” Heitkamp says. “And, we’ve have the International Lilly Oncology on Canvas exhibit two years in a row now. It’s the only place in North Dakota that’s doing that. This fall, we’ll be having a Parkinson’s inspired art exhibit.”
In addition, like coffeehouses across the country, Porpoura also hosts live music. It is one of the few venues where young performers can play. “There are definitely places to play if you’re 21 and older,” Heitkamp points out. “There is a complete lack of venue space for younger artists.” Porpoura posts signs at both coffeehouses about playing opportunities downtown. Many musicians just belly up to the coffee bar and ask the person on staff. Other musicians call or email the coffeehouse or contact Heitkamp on Facebook. It’s all very casual. People just tell them when they can play, and Heitkamp pencils them in.
“Most weekends, there’s someone playing downtown,” Heitkamp says. “There have been a nice variety of genres and musicians. It’s so fun having them there.”
Some musicians have come all the way from Aberdeen, SD or from Minneapolis. Others are local students who want a chance to perform. Porpoura has also had oriental dancers, voice students from Bel Canto Studio, and professional singer/songwriters.
Before the flood on ‘97, The French Connection and the Urban Stampede were venues that had live music every week and catered to musicians of all ages and skill levels. These venues launched a few musicians onto the wider stage. Porpoura is doing its part to fill the gap not only by raising money for cancer patients but also by providing an all-ages venue for musicians and artists.
[Photos courtesy of John Kopp]
